We will invest in the maintenance of our roads network to ensure it continues to support our economy and communities.
In addition, we will invest in road improvements and upgrades where they are necessary to support the sustainability of communities and businesses and/or support new economic opportunities in the islands.
The Council has a statutory duty to “manage and maintain” the public road network. The carriageway condition is measured each year and the results submitted as a statutory performance indicator to Audit Scotland. The Road Condition Indicator (RCI) that is used is a measure of “the percentage of the road network that should be considered for maintenance treatment.” Therefore, the lower the RCI the better the carriageway condition. The overall RCI for Shetland’s public road network, as at September 2022, has improved to 30.9% from 34.1% the previous year. Over the past 10 years, this figure has reduced from a high of 42.5%. The Scottish average now stands at 33.6%. This suggests that our strategy of reallocating resources to the treatment of “B class,” “C class” and unclassified roads is having a positive impact. This strategy was arrived at due to the good condition of our “A class” roads which can now largely be maintained using lower cost treatments such as surface dressing.
The Council has a programme for the improvement of sections of strategic road throughout Shetland. This programme enables issues and opportunities to be analysed and evaluated so that decisions can be taken between the alternative ways forward. This has included larger scale projects that had been identified but not progressed as they were outwith the scope of the existing arrangements for the maintenance and management of the road network. The current programme includes projects in the North Isles (Cullivoe and Mid Yell), South Mainland (Levenwick), North Mainland (Hillswick/Ollaberry junction) and in the Westside (Haggersta to Cova, West Burrafirth to Walls and Murrister). These projects would address issues such as road safety, deteriorated condition, the sustaining of existing businesses and/or the promotion of new developments.
63% of Shetland respondents to the most recent Scottish Household Survey said that they were satisfied with the quality of public transport. This was eighth highest in Scotland. 18% of respondents said they were dissatisfied, which was seventh highest.