Elgin rail crossing deadline pushed back
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A PROJECT to create a new road crossing over the railway line in Elgin has been pushed back by five years to 2035.
Revised traffic modelling for the town has taken place to consider new factors, including the proposed alignment of the dualled A96 and its junctions with local roads.
They are far closer to the town centre of Elgin than previously envisaged.
It had been thought an additional crossing would be needed by 2030 as outlined in the Elgin Transport Strategy, which was approved two years ago.
But this morning, members of the council's economic development and infrastructure services committee voted to push the bridge deadline back after learning of the latest traffic predictions.
The decision came despite calls from Elgin City South member John Divers to keep to the current schedule of 2030.
Cllr Divers said the issue had been on the agenda since the late 1990s and action was needed urgently, with recent roadworks at the Asda roundabout bringing the issue into sharp focus.
He said: "The tailbacks of traffic spreading out in all directions were unbelievable, especially when the trains were going across the crossing at The Wards.
"We have accepted there is a need for the bridge over the railway. All we seem to be doing is kicking the can down the road time and time and time again while traffic is building up.
"I can’t take on board what is being proposed here because the reality is we that have got road congestion around Elgin and it just seems to be getting ignored as far as I can see."
His call was backed by Heldon and Laich member John Cowe, who raised fears Elgin could come to a grinding halt – particularly if the A9 and A96 dualling programmes slip.
Cllr Cowe said the scrapped Western Link Road would have provided an additional crossing, adding: "But members of this council – present members of this council – decided against that. It was totally wrong.
"I don't think we can wait a further five years. It should have been there now. So another five years, it is £10 million now – what is it then?"
Councillors voted by 8 votes to 4 to extended the timeline after a plea by Fochabers/Lhanbryde member Marc Macrae, seconded by Forres councillor Claire Feaver.
Cllr Macrae said: "I think as councillors we do have to take cognisance of the information that is given to us from officers.
"Extensive traffic modelling has been undertaken, the information has been presented in front of us and, on the basis of that, I would have no difficulty in proposing a counter motion that we agree to the recommendation in front of us and the backstop date for the strategy is amended accordingly."
A report to members stated: "If there are funding opportunities that allow the scheme to be brought forward at an earlier date then these would be pursued. Similarly, the outputs of further modelling runs will reflect any changes in local circumstances and will highlight whether the need for an additional north-south crossing is accelerated, for example if there were any delay to the A96 dualling programme."
