Problems

The A701 - from the car dealership to the Jericho Bridge turning for Tinwald - is a high-speed road unsuitable for cyclists.
Cyclists turning right over Jericho Bridge towards Tinwald face oncoming 60mph traffic while cars behind them crest a hill on a corner and would have very little warning that any vehicle or bike is waiting to turn.

Proposals

Adapt the existing pavement on west side of A701 from Quarry Road to end of car dealership to be a shared-use path.
Add a crossing point at the car dealership.
Adapt the pavement on east side of A701 to shared-use path.
Extend the shared-use path from entrance to Jericho Loch to Jericho Bridge.
Reduce speed limit from 60 to 40mph on the section of road from Quarry Road to Jericho Bridge.

Benefits

Amisfield and Tinwald lie so close to the Caledonian Cycleway and this would create a direct traffic-free route into the Heathhall industrial estate, Dumfries High School and Dumfries town centre.
Eliminates the primary danger spot on the most commonly used route to Lochmaben via Shieldhill.

At a glance

Council Ward: 8 - Lochar

Total route length: 3.2 km

Travel times: By bike ≈7-12 minutes / e-bike ≈5-8 minutes

Total gap length: 860 m

Placeholder photo

Explore the gaps on Missing Link #19 - Tinwald and Amisfield

The Details

Amisfield, lies approximately 1.5 miles north of Locharbriggs along the A701 (Edinburgh Road). The Caledonian Cycleway ends at Quarry Road in Locharbriggs. Continuing to Amisfield directly along the A701 (Edinburgh Road) is not a safe route for cyclists. It’s a heavily congested road, with a mixture of traffic including fully laden quarry vehicles. Sections of it are winding, undulating and narrow and the road soon changes from a 30mph limit to a 60mph stretch before reaching safer, quieter back roads. The safest option is to go 2 miles on the back lanes of Kirk Brae and Kirk Bank from Jericho Bridge via Tinwald and then down the hill to Amisfield. From Tinwald you can also head east towards Torthorwald and ultimately Collin, avoiding the hazards of the A709 and the A75, while from Amisfield you can reach Lochmaben via Shieldhill.

While this is the most viable route, there are still two main hazards. The first is where A701 meets the Jericho Bridge junction. The second is at the Amisfield crossroads with the A701. At the Jericho Bridge junction, where the speed limit is 60mph, turning right into Kirk Brae from the A701 is hazardous, with cyclists vulnerable not only due to oncoming traffic, but also very fast traffic coming up from behind, accelerating out of the 30mph limit just as they approach the bend. There is no right turn lane refuge here.

A shared-use path on the eastern side of the A701 with the crossing taking place near the car dealership (still a 30mph zone) would provide separation from the traffic for pedestrians and cyclists and avoid the need to cross the A701 in a 60mph zone with poor visibility.