Plans lodged for £55m Midlothian relief road

Plans have been formally submitted for a £55 million relief road designed to tackle long-standing congestion issues around Straiton Junction in Midlothian.

The proposed A701 relief route is expected to remove up to 9,000 vehicles a day from the existing main road network and could deliver an estimated £189 million boost to the local economy.

According to Midlothian Council, the new road would run west from Straiton Junction before connecting to the A702, with an additional link to Seafield Moor Road (A703). The scheme forms part of the council’s Local Development Planand aims to improve journey reliability while supporting future housing and economic growth in the area.

A council spokesperson said that, subject to full funding, the road could be open by 2028. Funding is already in place for the initial stages of the project, while additional investment is being sought to deliver later phases.

Alongside the relief road, the council also intends to establish a “sustainable travel corridor” along the existing A701, featuring new cycle lanes and safer routes for pedestrians. Officials say the scheme will help address long-standing safety and accessibility concerns for those travelling without cars.

In a statement, the council said:

“The A701 is a heavily used transport corridor linking Midlothian and Edinburgh, as well as key retail, commercial and industrial zones across Straiton, Bilston and Loanhead.At peak times, the network experiences severe congestion, causing delays and unreliable journey times for drivers and public transport users. The A701 currently acts as a barrier between communities in Bilston and Loanhead, while side roads add further pressure along the route. Existing walking and cycling infrastructure is also of poor quality, with safety issues identified at several points.”

The relief road proposal is being seen as a major infrastructure upgrade for the region, aiming to balance improved vehicle flow with sustainable transport options for residents and commuters alike.