Publication - FOI/EIR release

Transport Scotland - Information regarding traffic signal installation at the A702 / A703 / Old Pentland Road junction: EIR release

Published: 22 April 2026
Topic: Public sector, Transport
FOI reference: EIR/202600505429
Date received: 9 February 2026
Date responded: 6 March 2026

Information request and response under the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004.

Information requested

I am writing to request information under the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIRs) regarding the traffic signal installation at the A702 / A703 / Old Pentland Road junction (commonly referred to as the Hillend or Damhead junction). Specifically, I am seeking recorded information concerning the operational impact of these signals on the A720 Edinburgh City Bypass and the A702 northbound approach since their activation. Please provide the following:

1. Complaint Logs: A summary or list of all complaints received from members of the public, local businesses, or elected officials regarding traffic congestion, "tailbacks," or safety concerns at this junction and the adjacent A720 Lothianburn off-slips from January 1, 2025, to the present date.

2. Safety Audits: A copy of the Stage 3 Road Safety Audit (Completion of Construction) and, if available, any Stage 4 Monitoring data or interim safety reviews conducted following the installation.

3. Queue Length Monitoring: Any recorded data, briefings, or internal correspondence regarding the length of traffic queues on the A720 southbound off-slip at Lothianburn and the A702 northbound approach during peak hours.

4. Signal Optimization Records: Details of any adjustments made to the signal timings in response to "gridlock" or tailbacks reaching the A720 City Bypass.

5. Inter-agency Correspondence: Any correspondence between Transport Scotland, BEAR Scotland, and Midlothian Council specifically discussing the "shunting" effect of these lights on City Bypass traffic flow.

On 9 February 2026 you clarified that you would like the search parameters to cover the period from January 20, 2025, to the present date in respect of questions 3, 4, and 5.

Response

Q1. You requested a summary or list of all complaints received from members of the public, local businesses, or elected officials regarding traffic congestion, "tailbacks," or safety concerns at this junction and the adjacent A720 Lothianburn off-slips from January 1, 2025, to the present date.

A1. Transport Scotland's Operating Company BEAR Scotland advise that a total of 225 enquiries have been received relating to the new traffic signals installed on the A702. Please see Annex A to this response for further information.

Q2. You requested a copy of the Stage 3 Road Safety Audit (Completion of Construction) and, if available, any Stage 4 Monitoring data or interim safety reviews conducted following the installation.

A2. Please see Annex B to this response for a copy of the Stage 3 Road Safety Audit. The Stage 4 Road Safety Audit has not yet been completed.

An exception under regulation 11(2) of the EIRs (personal information) applies to some of the information requested because it is personal data of a third party and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation and in section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018. This exception is not subject to the 'public interest test', so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exception.

Q3. You requested any recorded data, briefings, or internal correspondence regarding the length of traffic queues on the A720 southbound off-slip at Lothianburn and the A702 northbound approach during peak hours.

A3. Please see Annexes E and F to this response for copies of internal correspondence regarding the length of traffic queues on the A720 southbound off-slip at Lothianburn and the A702 northbound approach during peak hours.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Transport Scotland does not have some of the information you have requested. Therefore we are refusing your request under the exception at regulation 10(4)(a) of the EIRs (information not held).

It may be helpful to explain that in order to locate documents, we run searches on specific terms, these terms include key words used in any request, in this case key words included "length of traffic queues on the A720 southbound off-slip at Lothianburn and the A702 northbound"

Although this appears to be a simple request, it cannot be assumed that if held, the documents will contain these keywords to allow them to be traced when conducting searches through digital means.

Searches completed using the keywords in your request did not produce any documents within the scope of your request therefore we are refusing your request under the exception at regulation 10(4)(a) of the EIRs (information not held).

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. While we recognise that there may be some public interest in information regarding the length of traffic queues on the A720 southbound off-slip at Lothianburn and the A702 northbound approach during peak hours, clearly we cannot provide information which we do not hold.

Q4. You requested details of any adjustments made to the signal timings in response to "gridlock" or tailbacks reaching the A720 City Bypass.

A4. These two systems work off (MOVA) Microprocessor Optimised Vehicle Actuation which adjust green times based on traffic flows whilst maintaining a maximum green time. Please see Annexes C and D to this response for information in respect of Hillend and Old Pentland areas.

Q5. You requested any correspondence between Transport Scotland, BEAR Scotland, and Midlothian Council specifically discussing the "shunting" effect of these lights on City Bypass traffic flow.

A5. Searches were run to include the key words “Transport Scotland, BEAR Scotland, Midlothian Council, shunting, effect of lights on City Bypass traffic flow”. No documents were located during these searches.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Transport Scotland does not have the information you have requested. Therefore we are refusing your request under the exception at regulation 10(4)(a) of the EIRs (information not held).

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. While we recognise that there may be some public interest in information about any correspondence between Transport Scotland, BEAR Scotland, and Midlothian Council specifically discussing the "shunting" effect of these lights on City Bypass traffic flow, clearly we cannot provide information which we do not hold.

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