Transport Scotland - Advice regarding need for traffic signals on A78: FOI release

Information requested

I occasionally use the A78 between Greenock and Wemyss Bay to access the Rothesay ferry and was aware of works to change the nature of the A78 through Inverkip. These works included the installation of new traffic signal installations at the junctions of the A78 with Main Street, Inverkip and with Harbour-side with gives access to the Inverkip Marina. Now that the works appear to be completed, I am therefore surprised to note that southbound on the A78 at the Main Street junction, there are two primary traffic signal heads but no secondary.

This means that if there is a large vehicle waiting to turn left, this blocks out the left hand primary.. If the right hand primary then fails a southbound driver on the A78 has no guidance as to whether or not it is safe to proceed.

A similar situation applies for northbound traffic on the A78 at the junction with the access to the Marina. Again, two primaries but no secondary.

It may be that Transport Scotland has issued new advice to its contractors (and presumably to local roads authorities in Scotland) regarding the need for secondary traffic signal heads. If this is the case I would appreciate information on the specific website on which I may find this new advice and its date as it appears to be at odds with information previously issued by Transport Scotland.

Response

While our aim is to provide information wherever possible, Transport Scotland does not, in this instance, hold the information you have requested. This is because works at this location remain ongoing and are not yet complete.

Inverclyde Council are responsible for the junction improvement works in Inverkip as part of the Glasgow City Region City Deal projects. During a recent site visit, the issues outlined above were identified by our Operating Company, Amey, and raised with Inverclyde Council as matters of concern that would benefit from improvement from a road safety perspective. Amey also noted the absence of secondary signage on the A78 southbound approach to the Main Street junction and on the A78 northbound approach to Harbour-side. You may wish to contact Inverclyde Council here: Home Inverclyde Council

Amey intends to undertake a further site visit to complete the commissioning check and address any outstanding snagging issues.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that Transport Scotland does not have the information you have requested. However, it is hoped that the information provided above offers some clarification of the current position.

This exemption 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 exemption.

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.