Roads in Scotland used by timber hauliers are to get upgrades in a £900,000 government project aimed at supporting the country’s transport industry.
The plans include creating passing places for HGVs and building routes to take timber traffic away from people’s homes.
Dumfries and Galloway Council will receive funding for full reconstruction and resurfacing of a section of the A702 in Penpont village; the B734 from Barr to Lamdoughty will be upgraded with safer access for timber lorries and Highland Council will get money for structural, strengthening and safety improvements over 28.3 km of the A884, including 18 additional passing places.
Scottish Forestry said a further £1.1m would be used to fund projects that help move timber to wood processors via ship rather than on lorries.
MSP Jim Fairlie, minister for agriculture, marine and the islands, said: “With around six million tonnes of timber being sustainably produced each year by our forests, I am keen to support the sector to work in partnership with local authorities and residents to reduce transport impacts and enable the delivery of social, environmental and economic benefits for our communities.”
Dr William Clark, Scottish Forestry’s forest transport and innovation advisor, added: “By addressing transport issues collaboratively, we can improve quality of life for residents and enhance local road networks for communities and other businesses that rely on them, while maintaining the productivity and competitiveness of essential forestry operations.
“TimberLINK is a great example, with various companies working together to move around 75,000 tonnes of timber off the A83, avoiding thousands of lorry journeys and saving 1,700 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions annually.”
