WIREDGOV

Details of how new budget allocations will be spent were unveiled by Finance Secretary John Swinney in the Scottish Parliament this afternoon.

The specific transport strand of the announcement represents a package of almost £72 million aimed at improving journey times, relieving congestion and making Scotland’s roads even safer. It also marks a significant step forward in the vital design and development work for a multi-billion pound upgrade programme.

During this afternoon’s Stage 3 Debate on the Budget Bill, it was confirmed that additional capital allocation for 2012-2015 for transport includes:

South West Scotland and Ayrshire

• £10 million to start building the £28 million A737 Dalry Bypass, to start construction by 2014, subject to completion of the statutory process
• £20 million funding for upgrade to the A75, a key route to the south west ports
• £21 million for vital upgrade to A77 and improve road safety between Symington and Bogend Toll

North East of Scotland

• £8 million funding for north east road projects
• £5m to start building the £12-15m A96 Inveramsay Bridge and take forward design work for A90 Haudagain

The Highlands

• Over £12 million funding for Highland road projects
• New funding to take forward design work to complete the dualling of the A9 between Perth and Inverness and upgrade the A82

Transport Minister Keith Brown said:

"This significant funding boost is further evidence of our determination to use all the levers at our disposal to create and safeguard jobs. The allocation of these budgets will help deliver our transport priorities at a national and local level. The dualling of the A9 between Perth and Inverness by 2025, along with our plans to dual the A96, will mean that by 2030 all Scotland’s cities will be connected by a high quality and high capacity transport network.

"We know that an efficient transport system is a key driver of productivity. Today we are announcing almost £72 million extra for transport projects. This represents a package to improve journey times, relieve congestion and make our roads even safer for our communities and businesses. It also allows a series of immediate, targeted priorities across Scotland to be constructed and means we are taking huge steps forward in the vital design and development work for a multi-billion pound upgrade programme to make our strategic road network fit for the 21st century in a confident, ambitious and connected Scotland.

"Despite recent Westminster cuts to capital budgets, the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland continue to work tirelessly to ensure that a range of vital projects are ready to progress when funding becomes available. Our continuing investment in transport infrastructure projects has been helping the hard pressed construction sector, directly creating and supporting thousands of jobs. We are using every possible opportunity to support economic recovery, create growth and maximise the effect of every pound spent."

View the Budget Bill