Ian Yuill

Liberal Democrat councillor for Mannofield, Airyhall, Braeside, Broomhill, Garthdee, Kaimhill and Ruthrieston Learn more

Great Western Road / Anderson Drive traffic lights update

by Ian Yuill on 11 February, 2017

Red traffic lightI am regularly contacted by residents asking that right turn filters are introduced on Great Western Road at the traffic lights at its junction with Anderson Drive and South Anderson Drive. People have also suggested changing the phasing of the lights so that the eastbound and westbound traffic on Great Western Road each has its own phase – which would allow drivers to turn right without facing oncoming traffic.

Making it easier for drivers on Great Western Road to turn right would not only help traffic flow at the lights, it would make it safer as drivers would be less likely to try to turn right through a red or amber light and would also reduce “rat running” on Morningside Road, Cranford Road, Duthie Terrace and Hammerfield Avenue.

As Anderson Drive and South Anderson Drive are part of the A90 trunk road, the traffic lights at this junction are controlled by Transport Scotland, a Scottish Government agency, and not by the city council.

I have highlighted residents’ concerns to Transport Scotland on several occasions and each time they have refused to introduce right turn filters or separate traffic light phases for eastbound and westbound traffic on Great Western Road. The reason for this is that Transport Scotland’s priority is the flow of north-south traffic on the trunk road and not the east-west traffic on Great Western Road.

Transport Scotland though will lose control of Anderson Drive and South Anderson Drive when these roads are “detrunked” after the Western Peripheral Route opens next year. I have already said to the council’s roads and traffic management staff that I believe the council should take action to make it easier and safer for drivers on Great Western Road to turn right by either introducing right turn filters or changing the phasing of the traffic lights.

You can back the campaign for action to make it safer and easier to turn right from Great Western Road here.

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   7 Comments

7 Responses

  1. Dave & Fiona Ibbotson says:

    We totally support this initiative & agree with all the points you have raised especially with regards to the safety aspect. We have noticed an increasing number of drivers turning right on a red light from Great Western Road.

  2. Hazel Braynion says:

    The faulty streetlight in Airyhall crescent has now been fixed. Thank you.

    HNB

  3. Rosemary PATERSON says:

    Dear Ian,

    That would be wonderful to have a safer system at this very busy junction. Please pursue this action as it would make our city much safer. We pay rates and the council and its officials should be doing more to upgrade our streets etc.

    Rosemary Paterson

  4. IanMack says:

    Ian

    Thanks for all your efforts !

    It would also be good to try and stop HGV traffic ‘rat-running’ from South Anderson Road along Broomhill Road to Holburn Street / Gt. Southern Road as a short cut to avoid Bridge of Dee and Riverside Drive to get to A90 Stonehaven South.
    Broomhill Road is barely wide enough for buses never mind HGVs.
    There will be a tragedy one day soon !!

  5. Tony Rafferty says:

    Trying to sign petition for the lights change, cant find the link

  6. Bill Anderson says:

    I support your action on this matter. I have often thought of complaining of the stupidity of the situation.
    It must be the only busy junction in Aberdeen without fitlers. There are many quieter junctions that have filters. I am amazed that more accidents don’t occur due to the fact the only way to turn north or south on to Anderson Drive is to drive through a red light.

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