A82 upgrade petition considered

The A82 runs from Glasgow to Inverness

Campaigners trying to upgrade the A82 have put their case directly to MSPs.

They claim the route from Glasgow to Inverness - which takes in the Caledonian Canal, Glencoe and Loch Lomond - is an accident black spot.

The campaigners have told the petitions committee meeting in Dumbarton that the road needs improvements urgently.

Campaigner Stewart Maclean said MSPs took on board the urgency of their call and a meeting with the transport minister was schedule for 1 September.

More than 8,500 people have signed the petition calling for improvements. There have been 22 people killed on the A82 in the past two years.

A further 400 have been injured.

As the road weaves along Loch Lomondside, up to Fort William and along Loch Ness, there are many narrow stretches and bottlenecks.

Highland councillor Brian Murphy, chair of the A82 Partnership, said there was simmering anger and resentment over the state of the road.

A �90m upgrade is planned for the road but so far only �16m of the money has been committed.

This will pay for two projects - a by-pass at Crianlarich and a new junction at Pulpit Rock at Loch Lomond.

The Scottish Government said that any new spending on the A82 would be considered as part of the strategic transport projects review which is due to report later this summer.

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