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Roads
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Road is the dominant means of transport for the region, and it is recognised that it will remain so in the foreseeable future. A credible strategy for freight transport will necessarily reflect this, but will also have regard to maximising the potential of other means of transport, while reflecting the overriding strategy vision, that is to enhance the region’s viability.
Efficient freight transport is essential to the economy and quality of life in Scotland. Economic growth generates growing demand for freight transport. In order to meet the needs of business in the region, goods need to be transported easily, reliably and efficiently. This is not always the case in the region. The cost of transporting goods is very high and this makes businesses located in the region less competitive than their counterparts located elsewhere.
Road transport is dependent on a number of strategic routes between the region and the commercial activities and distribution facilities in the central belt of Scotland, and onward into England and on to the continent. Local roads also form an important part of the region’s freight transport infrastructure where they provide the primary means of local access to many of the regions businesses. Average journey speeds and journey time reliability of road haulage is hampered by the topography of the region and the quality of roads; many of which are single carriageway and, in some cases, single track with passing places. |
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