A9 dualling investigation to start at the Slochd
The Slochd Summit – the second highest point on the A9 only to the Drumochter summit and over 1300 feet above sea level – will be included in the latest ground investigation work for the dualling of the road..
A ground investigation contract worth nearly £1 million has been awarded to Raeburn Drilling & Geotechnical Ltd. which will help progress the scheme for the 15 mile section of the route between Dalraddy and Slochd.
The ground investigation work is expected to begin early next year and take five weeks to complete.
The summit is also well known for the German’s helmet on the rock face on the South West slopes of Carn nam Bain-tighearna
The rock formation looks like the face and helmet of German World War I soldier.
Earlier this year Transport Scotland officials said at a public consulation in Aviemore on the dualling that the landmark would not be affected by the dualling work.
Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Keith Brown said: "The A9 dualling programme between Perth and Inverness is one of the largest and most challenging infrastructure projects in Scotland’s history.
"Building on the vital ground investigation work that has already taken place across the dualling programme this year, this latest ground investigation contract will take place along a very challenging part of the route totalling over 15 miles which includes the dramatic rockface at Slochd.
"We hope to identify the preferred route for this section next year and these investigations will help inform the design work at the next stage.
"With design work for all the remaining dualling projects ongoing and the first section between Kincraig and Dalraddy due to be completed in summer 2017, we remain on target to complete this ambitious programme by 2025."
In order to ensure the safety of both road workers and road users we will need to introduce traffic management arrangements for these ground investigation works when they get underway early next year.
Road users and local communities will be kept informed of our plans and we will endeavour to ensure that any disruption is kept to a minimum.
• A map showing the 11 dualling schemes and where these ground investigations are taking place between Dalraddy to Slochd can be found at: http://www.transport.gov.scot/project/a9-dualling-perth-inverness
