A new Trunk Road Adaptation Plan has been published, setting out a strategy to ensure Scotland’s vital trunk road network remains reliable and resilient against the increasing effects of climate change.

The plan identifies specific locations where the network is currently affected by issues such as flooding, landslips, scour, and storms, and forecasts how these impacts are expected to evolve.

Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop, stated that the plan is essential for maintaining connectivity: "Our trunk roads provide vital connectivity, so safeguarding and future-proofing this critical infrastructure is essential if we are to keep Scotland moving and economically secure."

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The plan sets out a blueprint for developing and implementing targeted measures, with 43 specific actions to safeguard infrastructure and protect communities. These actions include:

• Strengthening bridges and embankments to better withstand extreme weather events.

• Integrating advanced weather forecasting systems to provide early warning alerts.

• Using nature-based solutions, such as sustainable drainage systems, to support climate resilience.

• Prioritising maintenance in locations identified as most vulnerable to climate change impacts.

The plan was launched in Glasgow at Greencity Wholefoods, a cooperative that relies heavily on the trunk road network for its distribution across the UK and Ireland. Leigh Galletly from the company welcomed the "proactive strategy of investment," calling a fully functional road network "essential" to their success.