North East Connections - March 2018 newsletter23 Mar 2018

Welcome to our March 2018 newsletter!

Click this link or download a copy of the newsletter at the bottom of this page.

In this issue you can read more about our recent £200,000 footbridge installation on the A95 in Cromdale, learn more about our winter service and find out more about our recent work in the community.  

You can also stay up to date with all the latest news from the North East Unit by following us on twitter @NETrunkRoads.  

BEAR Scotland - North East Connections - Stakeholder Newsletter_March 2018.pdf

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Over £4M targeted for urgent surfacing repairs across trunk roads in North West of Scotland13 Feb 2018

• Teams working to carry out repairs to road surface following adverse weather affecting sections of routes

• Repairs completed on A83 at Rest and Be Thankful and Dunoon Junction - with more to come at multiple locations during February, March and April.

• Works ongoing on A84 Strathyre and A889 Cathar Mor 

Click here to read about daily progress to the £4M programme of urgent repairs

Over £4M of investment has been targeted towards repairing defective sections of trunk road across parts of the North West of Scotland following freezing cold temperatures and subsequent thaws breaking apart the road surface.

A programme of road surfacing repairs has been drawn up which will see work carried out at over 60 locations across trunk roads in the North West over the next three months.

You can download a copy of the north west programme of repairs at the bottom of this page, or click here to read about a specific programme for urgent repairs on the A83.

The £4M of investment will allow for repairs to be completed as soon as possible, with up to seven dedicated surfacing crews working across the North West network to carry out repairs.  

Work began last week to repair and resurface as many areas as quickly and safely as possible, with resurfacing already complete at three locations; the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful, A83 Dunoon Junction and also the first phase of work on the A887 at Invermoriston.   Works are also ongoing this week at A83 Dunderave, A84 Strathyre, A85 Connel, A887 West of Achlain and A889 Cathar Mor.   Planing works ahead of resurfacing next week have also taken place on the A82 in Fort William and Torlundy.   The planned programme of work has been designed to address the 60 highest priority locations across the network, with details shared in the programme available to download at the bottom of this page.

Unfortunately continuing adverse weather conditions are hampering progress for these permanent resurfacing projects, however temporary repairs are being carried out where appropriate until the permanent resurfacing repairs can be completed.    

These areas of deterioration have formed following the sudden and rapid break-up of the road surface caused by the freeze and thaw cycle throughout this winter so far.  The expansion and contraction of ice as it penetrates through the roads make-up via tiny cracks in the material, which causes bigger cracks that in turn can lead to potholes and stripping of the top layer of road surface.

Click here for more information about how the road defects have been formed following the freeze and thaw cycle.  

Commenting on the programme of surfacing repairs, Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative said: “We’ve targeted over £4M investment into carrying out an urgent programme of repair across trunk roads in the North West of Scotland which will allow teams to address sections of the trunk road that are deteriorating rapidly.

“This winter has brought frequent heavy rain followed by sub-zero temperatures across out network of roads causing unprecedented damage to occur.

“As the winter weather is continuing to have an impact on the roads and our programme of resurfacing regular updates of the programme will be prepared to keep people well informed. The resurfacing programme will be made available on the BEAR Scotland website and will be updated regularly as works progress.

“We fully understand the frustration from the local community regarding the road surface at some locations, and rest assured we are doing all we can to carry out the programme of repairs as safely and quickly as possible.  

“Should anyone wish to report a specific trunk road defect you can do so via Transport Scotland’s Freephone Customer Care number, 0800 028 1414.”

Real time journey information is available from traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, the new mobile site my.trafficscotland.org or twitter @trafficscotland.  

BEAR Scotland_North West urgent programme of repairs_Feb - May 2018_02.04.18.pdf

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Freeze & Thaw Cycle - Tackling road defects in the north west of Scotland12 Feb 2018

BEAR Scotland is doing all it can to carry out repairs across trunk roads in the North East and North West of Scotland, after harsh weather conditions in December, January and February has had a detrimental effect on sections of the network.

As such, a £4M programme of repairs has been developed to address the areas of the carriageway that are most in need of repair in the North West Unit. 

John Wrigley, BEAR Scotland’s North West Roads Manager, explains the science behind the cause of this deterioration across the road surface, and what BEAR teams are doing to carry out repairs as soon as possible.

A road pavement has a natural life cycle and, at some point, it will require maintenance, repair and replacement. While most of these repair and replacement projects can be planned, sometimes a road surface can fail prematurely. Such failure can happen over the course of months, or it can be very sudden.

Asphalt surfaces, such as the ones that make up most of the trunk roads BEAR manage, are known for their durability and resilience. Its strengths make it a highly used material for many road surfacing applications and is by far the preferred material for the vast majority of roads across the UK, and indeed Europe. Like all paved surfaces however, it is susceptible to deterioration due to the laws of Mother Nature. Despite the great longevity of a properly laid asphalt surface, it can be cut short simply due to long term exposure to the elements. 

Freeze and Thaw Cycle

Deterioration of constructed road pavement is natural. It is natural because over time the materials that make up the road pavement begin to break down and become affected by elements such as temperature (especially freezing followed by thawing), rain, sunlight and chemicals (such as diesel) that come into contact with the road’s surface. 

The asphalt binder that is the “glue” of the road begins to lose its natural resistance to water, allowing it to penetrate into and underneath the pavement. Once this happens, the surface can quickly fall prey to a number of different types of deterioration. 

Due to the expansion and contraction of water when it freezes and thaws, the ice formed in freezing conditions expands in the voids within the carriageway’s matrix which can lead to tearing of the binder which holds the aggregate in the road together. This generally happens at surface level where the frost penetrates the upper layers. With the repeated expansion and contraction the stones in the road surface begin to loosen as their bond is weakened. The more this happens, the greater the rate of deterioration. This is a major contributory factor into how potholes occur.

In a section of road where surfacing materials are all of the same age and composition, sudden onset deterioration can occur on a rapidly spreading basis and water penetrates not only from the running surface down, but also through the looser stone which occurs on the sides of the pothole as it forms.

This freeze / thaw action has happened across the North West network at an extraordinary rate over this winter period due to the range of temperatures fluctuation above and below the freezing point.  In January alone this freeze and thaw cycle occurred very frequently with 22 days across the month where this was recorded - a higher number of instances than in recent years.  

The timing and length of the recent freeze – which saw 28 continuous days between December and January where temperatures dropped below zero – has made matters worse than in previous years.  

On the A85 in Connel, one of the areas that was badly damaged by the weather earlier this year, road surface temperatures in December ranged from a high of 10.3 degrees to a low of -6.5 degrees - a swing of nearly 17 degrees – which, when coupled with heavy rain in the same month, has meant that the road surface had begun to break down in some places due to this flux in temperature and weather conditions.

Usually the weather for creating potholes arrives in February and March, when there is more rain, however rainfall through January has been higher than in previous years. Unfortunately, this too has exacerbated the impact to the network.  

Challenges

It’s physically difficult to repair potholes at the very time when they become most prevalent. When temperatures are low, it is almost impossible to work with hot asphalt because it cools in transit from the plants where it’s made to the often remote parts of the network where it is needed. Even trucks that are specially equipped with heated compartments can only reach so many potholes in the course of a workday to undertake the repairs to the road system.

Additionally, fixing potholes in winter is difficult due to moisture: snow, ice and water naturally collect in the holes and cracks. The existing pavement needs to be dry for most asphalt mixtures to “tack” to form a solid, permanent bond. If moisture remains in the hole it can start the deterioration process all over again: freezing, expanding and allowing room for more precipitation to enter and expand further.  When air temperatures have dropped to below minus 12 degrees during January this year, it is a real challenge to try to repair the road surfaces in winter conditions.

As a result, and due to the accelerated rate of pothole development in the last few months, the fallback solution used to overcome this has been to place temporary repair material into holes to minimize the spread of potholes in the short term while a permanent solution can be delivered when warmer and drier conditions prevail.

That’s why spring and summer are the ideal months for conducting road repairs where possible, while at the same time we have to consider the impact of our work and limit disruption at all times so as to minimise any impact on the important tourist economy.  

What BEAR are doing to carry out road repairs

BEAR Scotland are urging people to report potholes. This can usually be done through the website here , or by calling Traffic Scotland’s Freephone trunk road customer care line on 0800 028 1414.

A programme of repairs has been designed and is being rolled out across the network as soon as conditions allow, with over £4M investment allocated from Transport Scotland to allow teams to address the deteriorating road surface.  

Teams are working to carry out resurfacing repairs as quickly and safely as possible, working to minimise any disruption to road users wherever they can.  You can read more about the programme of road repairs here, or particularly on the A83 where teams began working to carry out the programme of surfacing repairs in early February.

For all up to date traffic information, visit Traffic Scotland at www.trafficscotland.org, their new mobile site at my.trafficscotland.org or on twitter @trafficscotland. 

New File

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Freeze & Thaw Cycle - Tackling road defects in the north west of Scotland12 Feb 2018

BEAR Scotland is doing all it can to carry out repairs across trunk roads in the North East and North West of Scotland, after harsh weather conditions in December, January and February has had a detrimental effect on sections of the network.

As such, a £4M programme of repairs has been developed to address the areas of the carriageway that are most in need of repair in the North West Unit. 

John Wrigley, BEAR Scotland’s North West Roads Manager, explains the science behind the cause of this deterioration across the road surface, and what BEAR teams are doing to carry out repairs as soon as possible.

A road pavement has a natural life cycle and, at some point, it will require maintenance, repair and replacement. While most of these repair and replacement projects can be planned, sometimes a road surface can fail prematurely. Such failure can happen over the course of months, or it can be very sudden.

Asphalt surfaces, such as the ones that make up most of the trunk roads BEAR manage, are known for their durability and resilience. Its strengths make it a highly used material for many road surfacing applications and is by far the preferred material for the vast majority of roads across the UK, and indeed Europe. Like all paved surfaces however, it is susceptible to deterioration due to the laws of Mother Nature. Despite the great longevity of a properly laid asphalt surface, it can be cut short simply due to long term exposure to the elements. 

Freeze and Thaw Cycle

Deterioration of constructed road pavement is natural. It is natural because over time the materials that make up the road pavement begin to break down and become affected by elements such as temperature (especially freezing followed by thawing), rain, sunlight and chemicals (such as diesel) that come into contact with the road’s surface. 

The asphalt binder that is the “glue” of the road begins to lose its natural resistance to water, allowing it to penetrate into and underneath the pavement. Once this happens, the surface can quickly fall prey to a number of different types of deterioration. 

Due to the expansion and contraction of water when it freezes and thaws, the ice formed in freezing conditions expands in the voids within the carriageway’s matrix which can lead to tearing of the binder which holds the aggregate in the road together. This generally happens at surface level where the frost penetrates the upper layers. With the repeated expansion and contraction the stones in the road surface begin to loosen as their bond is weakened. The more this happens, the greater the rate of deterioration. This is a major contributory factor into how potholes occur.

In a section of road where surfacing materials are all of the same age and composition, sudden onset deterioration can occur on a rapidly spreading basis and water penetrates not only from the running surface down, but also through the looser stone which occurs on the sides of the pothole as it forms.

This freeze / thaw action has happened across the North West network at an extraordinary rate over this winter period due to the range of temperatures fluctuation above and below the freezing point.  In January alone this freeze and thaw cycle occurred very frequently with 22 days across the month where this was recorded - a higher number of instances than in recent years.  

The timing and length of the recent freeze – which saw 28 continuous days between December and January where temperatures dropped below zero – has made matters worse than in previous years.  

On the A85 in Connel, one of the areas that was badly damaged by the weather earlier this year, road surface temperatures in December ranged from a high of 10.3 degrees to a low of -6.5 degrees - a swing of nearly 17 degrees – which, when coupled with heavy rain in the same month, has meant that the road surface had begun to break down in some places due to this flux in temperature and weather conditions.

Usually the weather for creating potholes arrives in February and March, when there is more rain, however rainfall through January has been higher than in previous years. Unfortunately, this too has exacerbated the impact to the network.  

Challenges

It’s physically difficult to repair potholes at the very time when they become most prevalent. When temperatures are low, it is almost impossible to work with hot asphalt because it cools in transit from the plants where it’s made to the often remote parts of the network where it is needed. Even trucks that are specially equipped with heated compartments can only reach so many potholes in the course of a workday to undertake the repairs to the road system.

Additionally, fixing potholes in winter is difficult due to moisture: snow, ice and water naturally collect in the holes and cracks. The existing pavement needs to be dry for most asphalt mixtures to “tack” to form a solid, permanent bond. If moisture remains in the hole it can start the deterioration process all over again: freezing, expanding and allowing room for more precipitation to enter and expand further.  When air temperatures have dropped to below minus 12 degrees during January this year, it is a real challenge to try to repair the road surfaces in winter conditions.

As a result, and due to the accelerated rate of pothole development in the last few months, the fallback solution used to overcome this has been to place temporary repair material into holes to minimize the spread of potholes in the short term while a permanent solution can be delivered when warmer and drier conditions prevail.

That’s why spring and summer are the ideal months for conducting road repairs where possible, while at the same time we have to consider the impact of our work and limit disruption at all times so as to minimise any impact on the important tourist economy.  

What BEAR are doing to carry out road repairs

BEAR Scotland are urging people to report potholes. This can usually be done through the website here , or by calling Traffic Scotland’s Freephone trunk road customer care line on 0800 028 1414.

A programme of repairs has been designed and is being rolled out across the network as soon as conditions allow, with over £4M investment allocated from Transport Scotland to allow teams to address the deteriorating road surface.  

Teams are working to carry out resurfacing repairs as quickly and safely as possible, working to minimise any disruption to road users wherever they can.  You can read more about the programme of road repairs here, or particularly on the A83 where teams began working to carry out the programme of surfacing repairs in early February.

For all up to date traffic information, visit Traffic Scotland at www.trafficscotland.org, their new mobile site at my.trafficscotland.org or on twitter @trafficscotland. 

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£650,000 urgent resurfacing repair programme launched for A8306 Feb 2018

Works commence from Tuesday 6th February

Click here to read about progress through the A83 urgent repair programme

Motorists using the A83 between the Rest & Be Thankful and Whitehouse are to benefit from an accelerated repair programme, as £650,000 worth of urgent resurfacing works are carried out starting in February 2018. 

BEAR Scotland, acting on behalf of Transport Scotland, are planning to carry out urgent resurfacing works on a sections of the A83, situated between Rest & Be Thankful and Whitehouse.  The route is being inspected daily and hundreds of temporary repairs have been made in the past two months.. This inspection and repair work remains a priority and will continue however it requires to be followed up by permanent repairs. 

Click the link at the bottom of this page to download a copy of the A83 programme of urgent repairs.

Following successful discussions with our surfacing contractor, we are pleased to announce that the programme for repairs will now commence on Tuesday 6th February. A rolling programme of work will be carried out in order to address the most urgent locations on the route. Work will be carried out between 7am and 7pm each working day.

The majority of work will be carried out under convoy working, however, due to restricted road widths at certain locations some work will require periods of ‘STOP/STOP’ working. Motorists should therefore expect some delays.

Emergency services will be able to pass through the works at all times. Access to properties within the closure and for local bus services will also be maintained at all times, although some delay is inevitable. The road will be fully open during the day.

Eddie Ross, Operating Company Representative for the North West Unit, said:“A spokesperson for BEAR Scotland said: “We’re pleased to announce we have successfully accelerated a programme of work to address sections of the A83 which have deteriorated rapidly following the harsh freeze and thaw cycle experienced earlier this month.

“£650,000 has been set aside to address defects specifically on the A83, with teams working to prioritise multiple areas across the route between the Rest and Be Thankful and Whitehouse.

“Some of these areas were identified for future surfacing last year and added to our upcoming programme of planned work, however sections have deteriorated badly following the huge impact of ice and freezing winter weather causing the road surface to break up and have been brought forward.  Others are new additions to the programme that were also impacted by the winter weather.   

“In the meantime teams are carrying out temporary repairs where possible, erecting signs to advise motorists of the uneven road surface in some places and carrying out weekly safety inspections across the whole network to note any defects.

 “Should anyone wish to report a specific defect on trunk roads, please call the Freephone number 0800 028 1414.”

 Real-time journey planning information can be obtained by visiting www.trafficscotland.org or twitter @trafficscotland.

BEAR Scotland_A83 Urgent Programme_Feb - March_14.03.2018.pdf

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Safety message to motorists using A9 Cromarty Bridge30 Jan 2018

• Motorists to adhere to the 30mph speed limit and traffic signals

• Joint safety message from BEAR Scotland and Police Scotland

The £1.5M bridge improvement project on the A9 at Cromarty Bridge has returned to site following the Christmas break.

The project began in August 2017 to carry out concrete repairs to the bridge deck and supports as well as the installation of protection measures to prevent future deterioration.  The bridge deck will also be waterproofed and resurfaced to ensure a smooth and safe journey for bridge users.  

For the safety of the workforce and travelling public, traffic management has been installed on the bridge since construction began and it is continually monitored and reviewed. There have been regular instances of road users “jumping” red lights and speeding through the worksite. Both of these unsafe acts endanger teams working on the bridge and other road users. BEAR are committed to site safety and creating safe places of work for its staff and sub-contractors as a priority. This cannot be achieved without assistance from motorists crossing the bridge.

The traffic management is in place to protect workers from being struck by vehicles or debris on the carriageway. Motorists are reminded to not exceed 30mph within the worksite and to obey the traffic signals.

Police Scotland Road Policing Inspector, Neil Lumsden, said: “These traffic management measures are in place to ensure the safety of workers, the travelling public and improve journey time reliability. A small minority of motorists have chosen to ignore temporary speed restrictions and red traffic lights and I would like to remind the public that we will continue to work closely with BEAR Scotland to ensure the site is safe for all road users. Regular marked and unmarked patrols and checks will be carried out to deter this type of behaviour and motorists caught breaking the law will be robustly dealt with.”

Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative said: “BEAR and Police Scotland are committed to safety and we rely on cooperation of motorists to ensure our site teams are safe. I stress the importance of keeping to speed limits and obeying traffic signals as this allows teams to work in a safe environment.”

Real-time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland,org , twitter @trafficscotland or on the new mobile site my.trafficscotland.org. 

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