A9 - M90 - A93
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Ordnance Survey map Alternative aerial view
Where is it?
The end of the M90 spur (originally the mainline M90) at Perth, where it meets the A9 and the A93 into Perth itself. From the map, it might not look much, but it's one of the busiest roundabouts in Scotland and the centre of the country's road network.
It was nominated by 'Mad Manx'.
What's wrong with it?
Bad Junctions is about poor design, not just places that have run out of capacity. That's why most flat roundabout junctions that have problems don't make it in. Broxden is something quite different.
For one thing, it doesn't seem to be a very well designed roundabout. It's on a steep slope, meaning that heavy goods vehicles tip over here with alarming regularity, causing frequent hold-ups to two of Scotland's key trunk routes. It is statistically the most dangerous roundabout in Scotland because of this.
There's also the small consideration that there is simply no way around it. You can't avoid it, except possibly by going through Perth itself, which is hardly recommended. But there are no easy routes to bypass it in any direction. This is unhelpful when Broxden is the collision point of north-south and east-west journeys across Scotland, and one of the calling points on most journeys between places like Glasgow and Aberdeen or Edinburgh and Inverness.
Why is it wrong?
British road planners (and their whip-cracking political leaders, who write the rule books) like roundabouts. Roundabouts are cheap, they require no maintenance like traffic signals or bridges, they are easy for drivers to use, and they are almost unbelievably versatile. You can take any bizarre road layout and hammer it into a sensible shape with a couple of roundabouts.
It's great to have such a useful tool in your arsenal. The problem is that the roundabout is also the default choice when the traffic flows and turning movements aren't very decisive or you can't make your mind up about who should get priority through the junction. That is what seems to have happened here. You can almost imagine the conversation...
"We've got three high-speed roads meeting here west of Perth. Should we free-flow them together somehow?"
"Which one is the main road?"
"Er... we don't know. It looks like people will be moving around a lot so there won't be a dominant flow through it."
"Oh, that's fine then. Just stick a roundabout in and we'll put the spare cash towards the Christmas party."
What would be better?
Without having access to the traffic flows and a model of the turning movements that are made here, it's hard to say where a flyover or a bypass should go. Do more people go between the A9 to the north and the other arm of the A9, or do most of them actually head for the M90? Without knowing it's hopeless to speculate.
Some quick and effective fixes could be found, however, by some more left-turn lanes to enable, say, northbound A9 traffic to continue non-stop. You could also erect some signs warning lorry drivers that there is a severe risk of tipping over, because the word obviously isn't getting out. Just an idea.
Right to reply
Hate this junction? Or do you think it hasn't had a fair trial? Make yourself heard! Post a comment.
These are the most recent comments on this junction. You can see all comments if you prefer.
Michael has news:
The local council has granted planning permission to erect a 6m high sculpture on this roundabout, as part of Perth's 800th anniversary celebrations. The sculpture will stand on an 8m plinth, and will depict a grouse taking flight - no doubt scared by all the traffic! I wonder how this will affect any proposed improvements?
Kevin knows no fear:
I am a native Glaswegian who now lives in Tayside - therefore I've been immunized against Broxden Junction by years on Scotland's road to hell - the M8. Yes - it's a game of Russian Roulette sometimes at rush hour trying to get onto the southbound A9 from Perth but it's easy enough once you have the knack. But look at the almost perfect alignment between the A9 Northbound and the M90 - why not sink the road down (like the Gyle interchange on the A720 Edinburgh City Bypass), and then you can freeflow from the M90 to A9, and have a flyover or something for the A9 south to Stirling? Maybe that was the original intention???
Malcolm has fallen victim:
Just last month wife was driving round in middle lane when car was hit on rear offside by Dundee white van driver trying to exit from right hand lane to outside lane M90 just as predicted.
Arls wonders what the fuss is about:
I think the criticisms here are somewhat overstated. I moved up north 3 years ago and some of the critics of this junction should take the time out to check out the A45 Tollbar end junction when they're next down south if they want to see a broken junction. The English are far and away best at bodging roads, driving in Scotland is a dream by comparison!
Any cash spent on doing anything more than putting in more dedicated left turn filters here would be better spent grade separating some of the junctions on the A9 between here and M9 @ Dunblane. That road is crazy during the daytime or evening rush hour now with dark nights. It's a dual carriageway that should probably have been a motorway in the first place which has tens of busy right hand turns. Lethal!
Glen is having trouble with lane discipline:
One of the main problems at this roundabout is that many southbound drivers don't realise they have to make a right turn in order to stay on the A9. If you are, like me, heading south and want to join the southbound M90 the signs on the approach indicate that you can use both lanes. If you use the right hand lane, be prepared for drivers in the left hand lane driving in front of you, on the roundabout, as you try to exit and join the right hand lane of the southbound M90.
I have almost sent several drivers sideways down the M90 because of this.
There are plans to grade separate this along with the Keir and Inveralmond roundabouts, but they are "long term" plans which may see the light of day sometime within the next thirty years.
