North East Connections: The latest news from the North East Unit25 Aug 2016

Welcome to the summer issue of North East Connections - our stakeholder newsletter to read the latest news from trunk roads in the North East of Scotland.  You can read it here!

Read about BEAR Scotland's work in managing and maintaining trunk roads in the North East of Scotland. In this issue we visit the latest investments to the A9 and M90, as well as a closer look at our recent community involvement projects and our innovative LED lighting scheme that is being rolled out across the network.  

You can also keep up to date with BEAR Scotland’s activity in the North East via Twitter @NETrunkRoads.  

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New milestone reached as temporary bridge on A830 opens as part of £10M bridge improvement scheme22 Aug 2016

MILESTONE REACHED AS TEMPORARY BRIDGE ON A830 OPENS 

£10M bridge replacement scheme continues at Ranochan and Arieniskill Bridges 

The first milestone has been reached during the most recent bridge improvement project on the A830 with the opening of a new temporary bridge to traffic at Ranochan this week.

The £10M bridge improvement programme will see a total of seven bridges replaced and two refurbished along the ‘Road to the Isles’, one of Scotland’s most scenic routes.  

Ranochan Bridge, approximately six miles west of Glenfinnan, is the latest bridge to be replaced and the project is progressing well with the completion of a temporary road bridge to ensure the A830 remains open to motorists during construction.

Further along the A830, work to replace another bridge at Arieniskill is continuing with the temporary bridge expected to open to traffic next week.  

Once construction is completed the temporary bridges will be removed and used in future bridge replacement projects.  

Ranochan and Arienskill are the fourth and fifth bridges to be replaced on the A830, with the first at Dearg opened to traffic in December 2014 and two at Garbh and Utha completed in 2015.  Design is underway for the next two bridges in the programme, Criche and Shlatach, with construction due on-site in 2017 and 2018.

The new bridges are wider than the old structures, and the designs have incorporated stone from the old bridges to help the new bridges blend in with their rural Highland surroundings.  

Construction of the new bridges has to commence during the summer due to environmental restrictions around the sensitive watercourses, with each structure expected to take up to six months to complete.  

Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative said: “We are delighted that the schemes at Ranochan and Arieniskill Bridges are progressing well, and the installation of the temporary bridges will help ensure that any disruption to motorists is kept to a minimum while we carry out the upgrades.

“The £10M investment into nine bridges on the route will help ensure that the scenic “Road to The Isles” is kept to a safe standard for years to come.

“We thank motorists for their continued patience while we carry out the bridge upgrades, and, as with the previous three bridge replacement schemes, we urge them to take care and adhere to any traffic management that is in place for their safety.”

Real time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland at www.trafficscotland.org or twitter @trafficscotland.

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A830 fully reopened after landslip12 Aug 2016

A830 fully reopened after landslip

10.00am, Monday 15 August

BEAR Scotland teams have worked over the weekend to clear all remaining debris from the road and fully reopen the A830.  A landslip occurred on Thursday evening after heavy rain with debris blocking the road and nearby railway line.  Teams worked to clear debris and reopen one lane on Friday, with all debris from the culverts and verges cleared over thr weekend to reopen both lanes of the carriageway on Monday.  

A830 open under traffic signal control 

2.15pm, Friday 12 August

The A830 east of Lochailort has reopened under traffic signal control after teams from BEAR Scotland have worked to clear debris from the carriageway since first light this morning.

The traffic signals will remain in place over the weekend to allow teams to safely clear the remaining debris from the culverts and ditches next to the route.

The landslip occurred yesterday evening and approximately 100 tonnes of material is estimated to have washed onto the railway and A830 carriageway due to heavy rain.  Network Rail teams are working to address the railway line.  

Yellow Met Office ‘Be Aware’ warnings  for heavy rain remain in place in the Highlands and Strathclyde area until 6.00pm this evening, and motorists are advised to drive to conditions.  

Real-time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org or twitter @trafficscotland.  

BEAR Scotland teams working to clear landslip affecting A830 east of Lochailort

9.00am, Friday 12 August

A landslip occurred above the A830 east of Lochailort yesterday evening (Thursday), closing the road.  

Approximately 100 tonnes of material was washed onto the railway and A830 carriageway due to recent heavy rainfall.

BEAR Scotland teams worked to clear the materials yesterday evening however further debris was consistently being washed onto the carriageway due to the heavy rains, hampering the clear-up operations and resulting in the road remaining closed overnight.  

Following a geotechnical inspection, teams resumed the clear-up this morning at first light and are working to open the road as soon as possible.  The road will remain closed until it is deemed safe to reopen by Geotechnical experts.   Network Rail teams are also on site addressing the railway line.  

A diversion via the A861 is currently in place, motorists travelling from the south may wish to use the Corran Ferry to the A861 to reduce the length of the diversion.  

Further updates will be made available throughout the day.

A Met Office Yellow ‘Be Aware’ warning for heavy rain remains in place in the Highlands and Strathclyde area until 6.00pm this evening, and motorists are advised to drive to conditions.  

Real-time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org or twitter @trafficscotland.  

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BEAR steps in to help Cubs (and Scouts and Beavers!)05 Aug 2016

BEAR steps in to help Cubs (and Scouts and Beavers!)

Freuchie Scout Hall lies at the end of a narrow lane off the main street through the village. The footpath had been deteriorating for some time, resulting in lots of muddy Cubs, Beavers and Scouts – and a muddy hall to clean after meetings. 

When the 15th Fife (Freuchie) Scout Group approached BEAR Scotland for help, they were delighted to get involved.   BEAR teams stepped in after being made aware about the lack of a suitable footpath to the Scout Hall in Freuchie and worked to design and create a new safe and serviceable footpath.  After a series of on-site meetings, plans and drawings, the work was carried out over several days in June, and the lane is now transformed.

Group Scout Leader David Gordon said “We really can’t express how grateful we are to BEAR Scotland for undertaking this community project. It will make a world of difference in terms of access to the Scout Hall, and will be much safer for all our members, especially during the darker nights in winter.”

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On The Road: Read about the latest news from the North West05 Aug 2016

Welcome to our latest issue of On The Road, BEAR Scotland’s North West Stakeholder Newsletter.  You can read it here!

Read about BEAR Scotland's work in managing and maintaining trunk roads in the North West of Scotland. In this issue we visit the latest round of investment in two bridges on the A830 and the A9 Cromarty Bridge, as well as taking a look at innovative road safety projects in Braemore and Perth

You can also keep up to date with BEAR Scotland’s activity in the North West via Twitter @NWTrunkRoads.  

Look out for the North East newsletter which will be available shortly!

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