BEAR AIMING TO CLOSE GAPS
A REPRESENTATIVE of BEAR Scotland has agreed in principle to attend the next meeting of Newtonhill, Muchalls and Cammachmore Community Council to discuss the possibility of closing certain central reservation gaps on the A90.
BEAR engineer Gary Allan wrote to the community council earlier this month detailing proposals to replace the existing non-compliant central reserve safety fencing through the Muchalls bends.
Prior to undertaking that renewal, BEAR are investigating the feasibility of trying to reduce the number of central reserve gaps within this section of the road.
BEAR consider the openings to be undesirable in terms of road user safety as they encourage traffic manoeuvres that inherently have a higher chance of resulting in an accident.
Any crashes are also likely to be of a significantly increased severity.
Eight gaps are currently being examined, including access ways to Blackhill, Cortins Cottage, Bridge of Michalls, Mill of Muchalls and Coachman's Cottage.
BEAR requested the feedback on the matter from community councillors, who discussed the matter at their January meeting last week.
They noted the issue of drivers performing u-turns in the gaps, as it is often quicker if one wishes to travel northwards from Muchalls to turn left and join the southbound carriageway first, instead of trying to cross in front of heavy traffic before heading in the direction of Aberdeen.
Community councillors immediately identified four openings they believe could be closed off.
However, North Kincardine councillor Carl Nelson said: "This needs to be looked at really closely.
"If you don't close all of the gaps then that is where someone will do a u-turn.
"But we are going to need gaps for when there are contraflows in place due to roadworks or an accident. Perhaps a big roundabout at Muchalls is the answer."
The subject of how to maintain two points of access to Muchalls when Walker Road is eventually closed for access was discussed, as was the best way of securing the gaps.
The introduction of bollards that BEAR Scotland could remove whenever needed was put forward by Lesley Brown.
All of these matters will now hopefully be discussed with Mr Allan at the next meeting of the community council on Wednesday February 20.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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