The M9-A9 Thurso and Scrabster (20mph, 30mph and 40mph Speed Limits) Order 2025

The Scottish Ministers make the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 82(2)(a) and (b), 83(1), 84(1)(a), and 124(1)(d) of, and paragraph 27 of schedule 9 of, the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984(a) and all other powers enabling them to do so.

In accordance with sections 83(1) and 84(2)(b) of that Act, they have given public notice of their intention to make the following Order, and have complied with Parts II and III of the Secretary of State’s Traffic Orders (Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 1987(c).

Citation and commencement

1. This Order may be cited as the M9/A9 Trunk Road (Thurso and Scrabster) (20mph, 30mph and 40mph Speed Limits) Order 202[] and comes into force on << >>.

Speed limits

2. No person may drive any motor vehicle at a speed exceeding—

(a) 20 miles per hour on the length of roads specified in Part 1 of the schedule,

(b) 30 miles per hour on the lengths of road specified in Part 2 of the schedule.

(c) 40 miles per hour on the lengths of road specified in Part 3 of the schedule.

Revocation

3. The following are revoked—

(a) The Trunk Roads (Restricted Roads) (Caithness) Order 1975(d).

(b) The Trunk Roads (Restricted Roads) (Scrabster) Order 1982(a).

(c) The Edinburgh – Thurso Trunk Road (A882) (Thurso) (40mph Speed Limit) Order 1992(b).

(d) The M9/A9/A882 Trunk Road (Scrabster) (40mph Speed Limit) Order 1994(c).

Exemption

4. No speed restriction imposed by this Order applies to –

(a) vehicles falling within regulation 3(4) of the Road Traffic Exemptions (Special Forces) (Variation and Amendment) Regulations 2011(d) when used in accordance with regulation 3(5) of those Regulations; or

(b) vehicles being used in an emergency for coastguard purposes.

A member of the staff of the Scottish Ministers
George House,
Glasgow
202[

Schedule - Specified lengths of road

Part 1

1. That length of the M9/A9 Edinburgh – Stirling – Thurso Trunk Road at Scrabster, from a point 142 metres or thereby southwest of the extended centreline of its junction with the access road to the oil terminal to a point 276 metres or thereby northeast of the extended centreline of its junction to the access road to the oil terminal, a distance of 418 metres or thereby.

2. That length of the M9/A9 Edinburgh – Stirling – Thurso Trunk Road at Thurso from a point 10 metres or thereby southeast of the extended centreline of its junction with the C1081 Janet Street to a point 85 metres or thereby northwest of the extended centreline of its junction with the C1077 Durness Street, a distance of 716 metres or thereby.

Part 2

3. That length of the M9/A9 Edinburgh – Stirling – Thurso Trunk Road at Thurso, from a point 85 metres or thereby northwest of the extended centreline of its junction with the C1077 Durness Street to a point 203 metres or thereby west of the extended centreline of Castlegreen Road, a distance of 596 metres or thereby.

4. That length of the M9/A9 Edinburgh – Stirling – Thurso Trunk Road at Thurso, from a point 10 metres or thereby southeast of the extended centreline of Janet Street in a south easterly then south westerly direction to a point 53 metres or thereby southwest of the extended centreline of Millbank Road, a distance of 718 metres or thereby.

Part 3

5. That length of the A9 Edinburgh – Stirling – Thurso Trunk Road at Thurso, from a point 142 metres or thereby southwest of the extended centreline of its junction with the access road to the oil terminal in a southerly direction to a point 203 metres or thereby west of the extended centreline of Castlegreen Road, a distance of 1.763 kilometres or thereby.

6. That length of the A9 Edinburgh – Stirling – Thurso Trunk Road at Thurso, from a point 53 metres or thereby, southwest of the extended centreline of Millbank Road in a southerly direction to a point 127 metres or thereby south of the extended centreline of Mount Vernon Cemetery access road, a distance of 509 metres or thereby.

The Scottish Ministers hereby give notice that they propose to make the above Order under sections 84(1)(a) and 124(1)(d) of , and paragraph 27 of schedule 9 to, the Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984 which will have the effect of imposing a 20mph, 30mph and 40mph speed limits on the following lengths of road:-

20mph Speed Limit

1. That length of the M9/A9 Edinburgh - Stirling - Thurso Trunk Road at Scrabster from a point 142 metres or thereby south west of the centre line of its junction with the access to the oil terminal to a point 276 metres or thereby north east of the centre line of its junction to the access to the oil terminal, a distance of 418 metres or thereby
2. That length of the M9/A9 Edinburgh - Stirling - Thurso Trunk Road at Thurso from a point 10 metres or thereby south east of the centre line of its junction with the C1081 Janet Street to a point 85 metres or thereby north west of the centre line of its junction with the C1077 Durness Street, a distance of 716 metres or thereby.

30mph Speed Limit

3. That length of the M9/A9 Edinburgh - Stirling - Thurso Trunk Road at Thurso from a point 85 metres or thereby north west of the centreline of its junction with the C1077 Durness Street to a point 203 metres or thereby west of the extended centreline of Castlegreen Road, a distance of 596 metres or thereby.
4. That length of the A9 Edinburgh - Thurso Trunk Road at Thurso from a point 10 metres or thereby southeast of the extended centreline of Janet Street in a south easterly then south westerly direction to a point 53 metres or thereby south west of the extended centreline of Millbank Road, a distance of 718 metres or thereby.

40mph Speed Limit

5. That length of the A9 Edinburgh - Thurso Trunk Road at Thurso from its junction with the A836 in an easterly direction to a point 203 metres or thereby west of the extended centreline of Castlegreen Road, a distance of 43 metres or thereby.
6. That length of the A9 Edinburgh - Thurso Trunk Road at Thurso from a point 53 metres or thereby, south west of the extended centreline of Millbank Road in a southerly direction to a point 127 metres or thereby south of the extended centreline of Mount Vernon Cemetery access road, a distance of 509 metres or thereby.

Full details of the proposal are contained in the Order which, together with a plan showing the length of road involved and a statement of the Scottish Ministers’ reasons for proposing to make the Order, may be examined free of charge during normal business hours from 14th February 2025 until 14th March 2025 at the offices of Transport Scotland, George House, 2nd Floor, 36 North Hanover Street, Thurso Library, Davidson’s Lane, Thurso, KW14 7AF and Thurso Leisure Centre, Millbank Road, Thurso, KW14 8PS.

Any person wishing to object to the proposed Order should send details of the grounds for objection

in writing to the Director of Roads, c/o Jonathan Roberts, Transport Scotland, George House, 2nd Floor, 36 North Hanover Street, Glasgow, G1 2AD or via email to TRO-Objections@transport.gov.scot quoting reference NW/M9A9ThursoScrabster/JR by 14th March 2025.

H MCDONALD
A member of the staff of the Scottish Ministers
Transport Scotland
George House
36 North Hanover Street
Glasgow
G1 2AD

Statement of Reasons

The Scottish Ministers aim to promote the safe and efficient use of the roads for which they are responsible.
 
The Scottish Ministers are satisfied that the introduction of a 20 mph Speed Limit for the purpose of reducing the speed of motor vehicles will be in the interests of road safety, will support the national implementation on 20mph speed limits and will coordinate with local authorities 20mph speed restrictions on local roads.
 
The lengthened 30mph limit to the north of Thurso will reduce the speed of motor vehicles from the north approaching the controlled pedestrian crossing that was installed.
 
The 40mph speed limit added to the south of Thurso will reduce the speed of motor vehicles entering the town from the south past the cemetery.