Government set to put more road contracts out

Transport minister Keith Brown confirmed that contracts for Scotland’s east coast were at a procurement stage, with the deals to start from April 2014.

The announcement follows the awarding of two contracts worth a combined £230 million to Bear Scotland and Scotland Transerv to maintain the country’s motorways and A-class roads in the north-west and south-west.

Bear Scotland came in for criticism earlier this month, with East Lothian and Midlothian councils pointing out the contractor was responsible for gritting trunk roads where the worst traffic delays due to snow and ice had occurred.

Mr Brown said: “Scotland’s motorway and A class roads are fundamental to the economic well-being of the nation. They connect cities and towns, commuters and workplaces, business and customers.

“That is why we must strive to provide a well-maintained roads network with reduced congestion and reliable journey times.

“These contracts are central to that vision by providing high-quality and value-for-money trunk road maintenance service.”