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’s Strategic Roads Network Programme provides the information on current and projected needs, issues and opportunities around large-scale potential projects that might be required to maintain or develop the capability of the core roads network in Shetland.
A report to Shetland Islands Council in March 2022 set out the ranking process for the improvements listed in the Strategic Outline Programme, which uses technical criteria and specific investment objectives and critical success factors to score each improvement scheme.
In that report, the current improvement schemes are listed in the order they have been ranked (and at time of writing these were): B9082 Cullivoe Road (currently costed at £5.014m in the council’s Asset Investment Plan (AIP) in future years); A970 Lerwick to Sumburgh Road at Levenwick (listed as a potential project in the AIP awaiting business case approval with an estimated cost of £4.326m); A971 West Burrafirth to Walls Road (a strategic outline case (SOC) was approved by Shetland Islands Council in February 2023 and an Outline Business Case is now being drafted); A971 Murraster Bend (now incorporated into the A971 West Burrafirth to Wall scheme); B9081 Mid Yell Link Road (to A968) (an SOC is being drafted); A970 Hillswick/Ollaberry Junction (similarly, an SOC is being drafted); and the A971 between Haggersta and Cova. Improvements to this length of road were previously a named scheme on the capital programme, first listed in 1988. The scheme was considered to meet all of the principles of the then Shetland Transport Strategy, particularly those of accessibility and inclusion, compliance and environmental responsibility. The final design of the scheme was completed but the land acquisition process was protracted, although eventually concluded following the preparation of compulsory purchase and stopping up orders. However, this delay meant that it was not listed in the approved provisional five-year capital programme in October 2009, and has not been listed since. The SOC for this scheme will be drafted once the SOC for the A970 Hillswick/Ollaberry Junction has been completed.
The road network is the largest community asset for which the council is responsible. It is vital and fundamental to the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of the community. It helps to shape the character of an area, the quality of life of the local community and makes an important contribution to wider council priorities including inclusive growth, regeneration, education, health and community safety, as well as providing access to ferry terminals, ports and airports. Insufficient investment in managing and maintaining the strategic road network could create significant negative economic and social impacts that would affect large areas of Shetland and, given the nature of the network, the more isolated rural areas would be the most vulnerable to this risk.
The new draft Regional Transport Strategy (LINK), produced by ZetTrans, provides a policy commitment for 'enabling and encouraging' sustainable travel and supports its integration in all new developments, and so it will be appropriate to revisit the ranked list through that lens. Carbon costs will also be accounted for within the cost of construction for road improvement schemes and considered as part of the prioritisation of projects generally in Shetland.
