Frequently Asked Questions
Below you’ll find answers to some of the most common questions you may have about the trunk road network in Scotland and the services Amey provide as part of the north east Network Maintenance Contract (NMC).
North East Scotland Trunk Road Network
Q - What is a trunk road?
The trunk road and motorway network connects Scotland's major cities, towns, airports and ports enabling the movement of people, goods and services. These roads are maintained by Transport Scotland and their maintenance companies.
The vast majority of all other roads in Scotland are maintained by the local authorities, with some private roads being the direct responsibility of their owner.
Q - What routes do Amey cover in the north east of Scotland?
Amey cover the below routes on the north east trunk road network.
A9 - Keir Roundabout at M9 Junction 11 to Inveralmond Roundabout, Perth.
A90 - A90 Friarton Bridge, Perth to Stonehaven. Then from Ellon to Fraserburgh.
A92 - A92 from Stonehaven to Hillside/Marywell.
A92 - A92 from M90 Junction 3 Halbeath to Tay Road Bridge Roundabout, Newport.
A92 - A92 Tay Road Bridge Roundabout, Dundee to Kingsway East.
A95 - A95 Aviemore to A96 Keith.
A96 - A96 from west of Craibstone Roundabout, Aberdeen to A9 Raigmore Interchange.
A972 - A972 Kingsway East, Dundee
M90 - M90 Junction 3 Halbeath to Broxden Roundabout and Friarton Bridge, Perth.
Maintenance
Q - How are trunk roads maintained and inspected?
Transport Scotland's Road Asset Management Plan (RAMP) sets out how Scotland’s trunk road network is maintained.
The RAMP presents the type and number of trunk road assets that Amey are responsible for, including carriageways, footways, structures, lighting and drainage.
For each asset type, the RAMP describes its current condition and the range of activities used to manage and maintain it throughout its life.
Safety Inspections
Q - What are safety inspections and how are they carried out?
Safety inspections are carried out in accordance with the contracts and at frequencies not exceeding seven days. Slip roads and link roads at interchanges are inspected at the same frequency as the associated main carriageway of the trunk road.
Detailed inspections are also undertaken on each element of the trunk road asset. These are walked inspections and are typically undertaken on an annual basis (although this can change depending on the particular asset being inspected).
Structures are inspected visually every two years and with touching distance every six years. Special inspections are undertaken if a specific need is identified.
Q - What are the defect categories?
The different types of defects which can occur on the trunk road network are set out in the operating company contracts and are also explained below.
- Category 1 defects are those that necessitate prompt attention because they present:
(i) an immediate or imminent hazard, or
(ii) a risk of rapid structural deterioration to the affected element.
- Category 2 defects are any defect which is not a Category 1 Defect.
Potholes
Q - If I report a pothole on the network how quickly will it be repaired?
When we receive notification of a pothole or other safety defect, our Trunk Road Incident Support Service (TRISS) or Incident Support Unit will be despatched to investigate. If it is safe to do so at that time, they will carry out a temporary repair.
If it is considered unsafe, for example due to a heavy volume of traffic, they will return to carry out a temporary repair when it is safe to do so, usually at night-time when there is a lower volume of traffic.
Boundary Fences
Q - Who is responsible for maintaining boundary fences?
Amey are only responsible for maintaining boundary fences on motorways or special roads. We respond to any reports of breaches in fencing – checking and undertaking temporary repairs that will hold until permanent repairs can be undertaken.
Generally, all other boundary fences, walls and hedges are the responsibility of the adjacent landowner.
Litter Collection
Q - Who is responsible for litter collection on the north east trunk road network?
Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 the Local Authorities maintain responsibility for sweeping, cleansing and litter clearance on routes other than motorways and special roads. For enquiries regarding litter on the Trunk Roads you should contact the relevant local authority.
Amey's teams in north east Scotland are responsible for litter picking on the M90 motorway from Junction 3 to Junction 11.
We liaise with local authorities and, where possible, allow them access when traffic management is in place when they plan to collect litter. We also let them know when we are grass cutting so they can litter pick in advance. We also advise when we have traffic management planned for any works so that they can undertake litter picking in those areas safely.
Grass Cutting
Q - Why do you undertake grass cutting/landscaping without litter picking first?
On the routes we are responsible for litter picking on (as outlined in the answer above) Amey will always endeavour to pick litter on the verges prior to cutting the grass. On the other routes where local authorities are responsible for litter picking (as outlined in the answer above), we share our programmes for grass cutting with them with a view to giving them the opportunity to pick the litter in advance of any grass cutting.
TRISS Patrols
Q - What is TRISS and what do they do?
Our Trunk Road Incident Support Service (TRISS) patrols the north east trunk road network keeping it safe for road users and ensuring that traffic keeps flowing. They assist road users and the emergency services during incidents.
TRISS also remove hazards from the carriageway, such as debris from traffic lanes and hard shoulders, when safe to do so and make temporary repairs to potholes. All of our TRISS vehicles are manned by a team of highly experienced people who are trained to provide critical support to road users.
Q - What type of incidents do they attend?
Incidents can be as minor as a vehicle breakdown, a puncture, or someone in the winter requiring screen wash. When attending an incident, TRISS can relieve congestion by aiding the affected vehicle and alerting the issue to other traffic by highlighting the stopped vehicle through use of its roof mounted variable message board signs. TRISS can also provide assistance by moving the vehicle to a safe location.
They also attend more serious incidents such as road traffic collisions, providing support to the emergency services involved.
Road Safety Improvements
Q - How do you decide if road safety improvements are required at specific locations?
Each year, on behalf of Transport Scotland, Amey undertakes a review of collision data on the trunk road network to identify cluster sites or routes with recorded collisions that may be worthwhile of further investigation.
The screening process, together with a detailed understanding of collision trends around the network, results in a prioritised programme of sites that will be investigated further.
This evidence led approach ensures that resources can be targeted at locations where the greatest potential for casualty reduction is available. This approach has been successful in reducing casualties across Scotland’s trunk road network.
Overnight Working
Q - Why are some schemes carried out overnight instead of during daytime hours?
There are restrictions on working times in relation to some routes on the network, so night working is unavoidable in some cases. Additionally, to minimise disruption to the road users on the network, schemes may be programmed for overnight working when there is a lower volume of traffic.
Information On Planned Roadworks
Q - How can I find traffic information and details about planned roadworks?
Planned trunk road works from across Scotland are listed on the Traffic Scotland website. This information is also available from the Scottish Roadworks Register.
Traffic Scotland also provides up to date information on the Scottish motorways and trunk road network in relation to:
- Accidents and current incidents.
- levels of congestion.
- Severe weather warnings.
- Significant planned events that impact on the network e.g. concerts.
- Park and ride facilities.
- Signposting to alternative public transport provision.
Amey's dedicated north east trunk road website hosts details of the current planned roadworks in north east Scotland.
Road users can also sign up for free email alerts about maintenance schemes taking palace on any, or all, of the routes making up the Scottish north east trunk roads network.
CCTV
Q - Is CCTV of the trunk road network recorded?
Traffic Scotland, who operate the CCTV camera systems, do not routinely record any CCTV or video footage from any of our camera locations, unless specifically asked to by the Police or by Transport Scotland.
Each live traffic camera image that appears on the Traffic Scotland website is captured from the video stream coming from the camera, as a static image, and held for approximately 5 minutes before being overwritten by the next image captured.
Winter Service
Q - Who delivers the winter service in north east Scotland?
As the trunk road authority in Scotland, Transport Scotland sets out its Winter Service Plan to keep Scotland moving.
Amey deliver winter service operations in north east Scotland, on behalf of Transport Scotland, to allow the safe movement of users of the trunk road network and minimise delays and disruption to users caused by snow or ice.
A copy of Amey's 2023-24 NMC NE Winter Plan is available to read or download.
Temporary Speed Limits At Roadworks
Q - Why do you use temporary speed limits at roadworks?
There is a blanket omnibus temporary speed limit order covering all the A92 NE NMC Trunk Road Network.
This allows us to deploy a temporary speed limit based on a dynamic risk assessment to protect all road users and to reduce the risk of road workers being hit by flying debris (or reduce the chance of serious injury if one is hit).
There will also be circumstances where the temporary speed is required due to contraflows, narrow lanes and temporary barriers.
Litter Collection
Q - Who is responsible for litter collection on the north east trunk road network?
Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 the Local Authorities maintain responsibility for sweeping, cleansing, emptying litter bins and litter clearance on routes other than motorways and special roads.
For enquiries regarding litter on the Trunk Roads you should contact the relevant local authority. This is a statutory requirement for Local Authorities.
Amey's teams in north east Scotland are responsible for litter picking on the M90 motorway from Junction 3 to Junction 11.
We liaise with local authorities and, where possible, allow them access when traffic management is in place when they plan to collect litter.
We also let them know when we are grass cutting so they can litter pick in advance.
We also advise when we have traffic management planned for any works so that they can undertake litter picking in those areas safely.
