Scottish Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser has written to Transport Scotland to ask them to review the current traffic light system at the Swallow Roundabout after the issue of persistent and worsening congestion was raised with him.
The traffic lights were installed following an agreement between developers of a new housing development at Liff and Dundee City Council. However, traffic conditions at the roundabout, located on the outskirts of Dundee, have become unpredictable and on Wednesday a ‘technical issue’ at around 8.30am led to long tailbacks of traffic, stretching back as far as Longforgan.
Commenting, Mr Fraser said: “Given these recurring issues, I decided to write to the Chief Executive of Traffic Scotland to ask if they will review the current operation at the Swallow Roundabout and the timing of the traffic lights there. Constituents have told me they feel that the lane structure is very dangerous at the roundabout, particularly if you are travelling towards Riverside – it is an accident waiting to happen.
“One of my constituents, who has commuted daily to Dundee for eighteen years from Inchture without any difficulty, told me how she was delayed by around 20 minutes during the morning peak traffic. On the same day, her son experienced a 15-minute delay when travelling to sit a school exam, and a further delay in the early evening resulted in another family member arriving late for scheduled activities in Dundee.
“These examples illustrate the broader pattern of disruption that is causing considerable stress and inconvenience for local residents.
“There appeared to be some improvement from late summer onwards, but constituents now advise me that severe delays have returned in recent days.”
Mr Fraser continued: “Constituents are seeking reassurance that the traffic-management measures in place are fit for purpose and will not continue to impose unnecessary delays on those travelling to Dundee.
“I have therefore asked Transport Scotland to provide information on planned adjustments, monitoring arrangements, or further steps that may be taken to alleviate these concerns.”
And Councillor Angus Forbes, who represents the Carse of Gowrie ward for the Scottish Conservatives, added: “Despite the completion of works aimed at improving the Swallow Roundabout, the junction has become a critical point of failure on the A90, leading to unacceptable disruption and serious safety concerns for my constituents. The new traffic light system and corresponding road markings have resulted in widespread confusion, which has been directly linked to numerous accidents and near-misses.
“The impact on local residents and commuters is severe, with almost 1,500 people reporting significantly increased journey times, which is causing distress and hindering access to work and medical appointments. It is utterly inexplicable that a public safety issue of this magnitude, which has been formally flagged by an audit, is still being treated with such bureaucratic lethargy. Transport Scotland and the developer must stop passing the responsibility and immediately agree and implement the necessary changes to make the Swallow Roundabout safe and functional before a serious or fatal accident occurs.
"I understand that an electrical fault may be at the root of the most recent issues. Transport Scotland and the developer must give a clear, immediate commitment that this newly identified electrical fault will be addressed with absolute urgency, ensuring the Swallow Roundabout is made safe and functional within days, not weeks or months."
