A96 Union Bridge in Keith landslip damage costs breakdown: EIR release

Information requested

"I am writing to request a breakdown of costs associated with the works to repair landslip damage at Union Bridge on the A96 in Keith: https://netrunkroads.scot/a96-union-bridge-in-keith/

Please supply a breakdown of costs incurred for specific areas, including temporary traffic lights, feasibility studies, the work itself, etc.

Please also supply any forecasted costs until the project is completed."

Response

As the information you have requested is 'environmental information' for the purposes of the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIRs), we are required to deal with your request under those Regulations. We are applying the exemption at section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA), so that we do not also have to deal with your request under FOISA.

This exemption is subject to the 'public interest test'. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption, because there is no public interest in dealing with the same request under two different regimes. This is essentially a technical point and has no material effect on the outcome of your request.

Please supply a breakdown of costs incurred for specific areas, including temporary traffic lights, feasibility studies, the work itself, etc.

I can advise that the following costs have been spent to date:

• 2024/25 Financial Year £336,849.88
• 2025/26 Financial Year £115,230.59

The costs above are inclusive of temporary traffic lights, investigation, design, listed structure consents (planning) and construction.

An exception under regulation 10(5)(e) (Confidentiality of commercial or industrial information) of the EIRs applies to some of the information you have requested. This exception applies because disclosure of this particular information would, or would be likely to, prejudice substantially the confidentiality of commercial information provided by our Operating Company, Amey, and thus cause substantial harm to their commercial interests. Disclosing this information, and breaking the costs down, could potentially expose Ameys contractual rates and give competitors an advantage in future similar tendering exercises, which would substantially prejudice their ability to submit competitive tenders and so could significantly harm their commercial business.

This exception is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exception. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exception. We recognise that there is a public interest in disclosing information as part of open and transparent government, and to help account for the expenditure of public money. However, there is a greater public interest in protecting the commercial interests of companies which enter into Transport Scotland contracts, to ensure that we are always able to obtain the best value for public money.

Please also supply any forecasted costs until the project is completed.

The current additional forecasted spend, until completion, is £364,094.95. This estimate is subject to change.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.