Bothwell Gardens roadworks traffic moving as planned

The traffic management in place at Dunfermline's Bothwell Gardens roundabout is working as planned and keeping delays to a minimum.

The roadworks, which are programmed to run for 16 weeks, include installing traffic signals on Bothwell Gardens roundabout, upgrading the traffic lights at the Netherton Broad Street/Moodie St junction and adjacent resurfacing works. These upgrades are necessary to ensure the city's road network can cope with the forecasted population increase.

John Mitchell, Head of Fife Council's Roads and Transportation Services, said: “I’d like to take this opportunity to apologise for the disruption caused by the initial day of set up and signal adjustments. We appreciate that the initial delays caught people off guard and was understandably frustrating. I’m pleased to say that traffic is now moving well, and we will work with the contractor to ensure that delays are minimised as much as practically possible.

"An assessment of the effects of new development around the city, including housing, has identified the need for a range of improvements because of the scale of planned growth which includes 8,000 new homes, four new primary schools and development of employment land in the coming years."

The transport assessment work identified that as the large housing developments are delivered additional trips create significant congestion at specific locations on the existing road network unless key improvements are delivered. The improvements include the new traffic lights which were installed at the A823 Pitreavie roundabout in 2022, and the current improvements at Bothwell Gardens roundabout and adjacent road corridor.

Since the improvements are required because of new development, the costs of the works are funded by the developers. Planning legislation requires that the funding from the developers must be used on the identified improvement works and nothing else. In addition, Fife Council is also undertaking road maintenance works on St Leonards Street, from Bothwell Gardens roundabout to St Leonards roundabout, to make best use of the works programme and avoid future delays to the travelling public.

John Mitchell added: "Whilst this upgrade has been identified as necessary, unfortunately there will be an unavoidable impact on the travelling public in the coming months due to its central location. We would ask that people, where possible, consider alternative routes and allow more time for their journeys. We appreciate that there are local events during the period of the roadworks, and we will work to minimise delays as much as we can."

• The Bothwell Gardens roundabout works is split into three phases, along with a diversion route that will be in place during phase two of the works. These works are expected to be completed by 18 August 2024.
• Following on from the completion of Bothwell Gardens, the crossroads at Elgin Street / Moodie Street will undergo existing signal upgrades and will be controlled using four-way temporary traffic management.
• Netherton Broad Street will then be resurfaced and re-lined as amendments are required from the new roundabout layout.
• All of the works are to be completed within the 16 week window, anticipated to be completed in October 2024.