A96 Dualling Hardmuir to Fochabers: Preferred option A96 Dualling Hardmuir to Fochabers: Preferred option A96 Dualling A96 Dualling Hardmuir to Fochabers: Preferred option KEY Further information What happens next? Introduction Existing A96 dual carriageway section Shortlisted options assessment Hardmuir to Fochabers scheme Existing A96 single carriageway section Should you wish to contact Inverness to Nairn (inc. Nairn bypass) Transport Scotland is progressing an Lossiemouth AWPR Transport Scotland and its consultants Mott MacDonald Sweco will further develop Mott MacDonald Sweco, For the purposes of options assessment the A96 Dualling Hardmuir to Buckie ambitious programme that will see the Ban Fochabers scheme has been divided into three sections: the preferred option. details for the stakeholder Preferred option HARDMUIR TO FOCHABERS Elgin dualling of the A96 between Inverness A96 Transport Scotland will look to publish draft Orders and an Environmental Impact team are: Fraserburgh • Hardmuir to Hillhead. and Aberdeen by 2030. The route is Assessment Report for the A96 Dualling Hardmuir to Fochabers scheme during the Keith Public exhibitions A96 Fochabers • Hillhead to Lhanbryde. Landowner and Communities approximately 160km (99 miles) long, Forres second half of 2020 for formal comment. Nairn • Lhanbryde to East of Fochabers. of which 138km (86 miles) is currently The draft Road Orders will define the line of the developed preferred option. The draft Manager: Dave Gowans December 2018 Huntly Peterhead For each section, the performance of a north and a south option has single carriageway. INVERNESS Compulsory Purchase Order will define the extent of land required to deliver, operate Tel: 01309 250 380 been assessed to determine a preference. The A96 Dualling Hardmuir to A96 and maintain the scheme. Email: dave.gowans@ A95 The preferred option drawing, shown overleaf, summarises the outcome Fochabers scheme (western section) will Inverurie The next stage of the assessment process will include: sweco.co.uk of the engineering, environment, traffic and economic assessments create a new A96 dual carriageway from Grantown-on-Spey carried out and explains why a particular option is preferred. • Consultation with affected parties. By post: Mott MacDonald the tie-in of the A96 Dualling Inverness A9 The preferred option consists of a combination of the three section • Further consultation with statutory bodies, community councils and other relevant Sweco, Unit 16, Horizon to Nairn (including Nairn Bypass) scheme interest groups. Central at Hardmuir, to the east of Fochabers Inverness Eastern preferences from the assessment. The preferred option was then Scotland, The Enterprise Section Section to Nairn Western Section A96 Dualling ABERDEEN Design development of the preferred option. (including East of A96 Dualling – a distance of approximately 46km (28 A96 Dualling Hardmuir to East of Huntly validated through an end-to-end economic assessment which confirmed • Park, Forres IV36 2AB Nairn Fochabers scheme Fochabers Design development of Non-Motorised User (NMU) facilities. bypass) to Huntly to Aberdeen that it was the best performing option when compared to the other • miles). scheme scheme A90 possible combinations. A96 Elgin East • Ground investigation works. All of the information In June 2017 and February – March Identification of the land required for the scheme and preparation of draft Orders. • presented at today’s event is 2018, public exhibitions and drop-in Stonehaven A90 • Environmental assessment of the developed preferred option and preparation of an available on the A96 Dualling sessions were held to seek public Preferred option Environmental Impact Assessment. Hardmuir to Fochabers project feedback on the options being An overview of the A96 Dualling Programme Development of suitable mitigation measures to reduce impacts on the environment. The preferred option for the A96 Dualling Hardmuir to Fochabers scheme is shown overleaf. • website: developed. In August 2018, details of For example: The drawing indicates the preferred option alignment, the designed layouts for all junctions and alterations to side roads. The location the shortlisted options being assessed forward for further design development. Appropriate construction management plans. transport.gov.scot/ A feedback form is and layout of road drainage basins / ponds is indicative and will be subject to further design development. • were publicised, circulated to interested Transport Scotland staff and their Mammal (e.g. badger and otter) underpasses, ledges and fences. project/a96-hardmuir- available at the exhibition These aspects will be subject to further design and development as the scheme progresses. Environmental mitigation will also be • parties and made available on the project consultants, Mott MacDonald Sweco, will Landscape planting. fochabers incorporated into the scheme design as part of the DMRB Stage 3 Assessment. • website. be happy to assist you with any queries or on the project website: • Noise barriers or environmental bunds. The purpose of today’s exhibition is you may have. transport.gov.scot/project/ The design has the following key features: Should you have any specific accessibility requirements, to present the preferred option that This leaflet provides a summary of the a96-hardmuir-fochabers 46.4km of dual carriageway. • the contents of this leaflet has been selected following detailed preferred option for the A96 Dualling • Seven grade-separated junctions. Comments and feedback assessment and which is being taken Hardmuir to Fochabers scheme. and information on the project • New crossings of the Rivers Findhorn, Lossie and Spey. • Five crossings of the Aberdeen – Inverness railway line. Transport Scotland welcomes your comments and feedback. Your comments will website can be made available • Major utility interfaces. be taken into account during development of the preferred option. in an appropriate format on Scheme assessment process Comments can be made on the feedback forms provided On opening, some of the key benefits the new A96 Dualling request by contacting the and placed in the feedback box at this exhibition, or sent Transport Scotland carries out a rigorous assessment Hardmuir to Fochabers scheme will provide include: project team. Design Manual for Roads and Bridges Process by email or post. Feedback forms are also available on the process to establish the preferred option for a trunk road Improved journey times and reliability for all trunk road traffic, • Transport Scotland website. For further information on the improvement project. DMRB Stage 1 including freight. wider A96 Dualling Programme, The preparation and development of trunk road projects Strategic assessment Email to: [email protected] • Significantly improved road safety. HARDMUIR TO FOCHABERS please visit the Transport follows the project assessment process set out in the Design A96 Dualling Programme – STAGE COMPLETE • Better transport connections between settlements in Moray and to Or by post to: A96 Dualling Team, Transport Scotland, Scotland website at: Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB). the wider strategic transport network. Buchanan House, 58 Port Dundas Road, This is a three-stage assessment process that considers DMRB Stage 2 Opportunities to facilitate active travel. transport.gov.scot/ • A96 Elgin West Glasgow G4 0HF engineering, environmental, traffic and economic Route option assessment • Relief to communities currently impacted by through traffic. a96dualling considerations. Hardmuir to Fochabers – STAGE COMPLETE Or email: Throughout this assessment process, Transport Scotland Please take time to consider the information consults with a diverse range of stakeholders, local presented and provide any comments you may a96dualling@ DMRB Stage 3 communities and interested parties, including heritage, Design and assessment of preferred option have as soon as possible and by 31 January 2019. transport.gov.scot environmental and Non-Motorised User (NMU) groups such as pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians. Statutory Process The DMRB Stage 1 Assessment of the A96 Dualling Programme About your comments and feedback Publication of Environmental Impact Assessment Report, was completed in 2015 and the DMRB Stage 2 Assessment draft Road Orders and Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) Transport Scotland will consider your comments and feedback as part of the further design development and assessment of the scheme, and for the A96 Dualling Hardmuir to Fochabers scheme is now all submissions will be shared with our design consultant for the project. We may also use your submission to inform future reports or public Public Local Inquiry (if required) documents related to this scheme. If you choose to provide contact details with your submission, Transport Scotland will send you updates complete. about the scheme, including invitations to future public engagement events. We will only use your contact details for the purpose of keeping The preferred option has been announced and is available for you updated with the progress of this project. Your personal data will be deleted on completion of the project and you can opt out of receiving you to view here today and on the project website. Procurement Tender process to appoint works contractor updates about the scheme from Transport Scotland at any time by contacting the project team. The provision of contact details is optional and The next step is to progress the design development and carry your