COLIN BEATTIE MSP BACKS IMPROVEMENTS TO EDINBURGH CITY BYPASS

​SNP MSP Colin Beattie has backed calls to improve the current situation on the Edinburgh City Bypass, this would provide commuters with an easier journey to and from work on a daily basis.

In a debate raised in the Scottish Parliament, Colin Beattie said “The people of Midlothian North and Musselburgh meet the queues of traffic heading on to the bypass on the main roads around my constituency before they are even near the bypass. This causes more congestion and more air pollution.”

Commenting after the debate, Colin Beattie MSP said:
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“Edinburgh City Bypass is a well-used trunk road in our area. You can go along the road at any time of the day and there are queues of traffic mainly at the Sheriffhall Roundabout.

“It is important that when the government are looking at all the possible changes required to the Bypass all options are considered. The main priority should be that it is cost efficient and done as soon as possible.

 “It may be that it is more economic to extend a tram or light rail system out to the main population centres such as Dalkeith, Bonnyrigg and Musselburgh than to take on the eye watering cost of enlarging the A720. This would also benefit the environment and be much faster than using road transport. Clearly more radical thinking needs to be done on creating a sustainable solution. I am not convinced that simply replicating a system which moves traffic speedily and efficiently into new choke points is the answer.”

“The important thing that we all have to remember is that any change to the Bypass has to allow the traffic to keep moving and to remain as safe as possible for all vehicles.”