A86 will be closed to ALL traffic for three weeks including emergency services
Repairs costing £1.2m on the A86 will mean lengthy diversions and a road closure which will block all traffic - including emergency services - for nearly three weeks
The nature of the closure - which will run from August 19 until September 7 - has alarmed leaders of affected communities along the east-west artery route.
BEAR Scotland has said the essential surfacing improvement works west of Newtonmore will entail:
• 24 hour a day works begin on Monday 19 August for 20 nights.
• 24 hour road closure in place for safety.
At Laggan Community Council, chair Karen Thew told the Strathy: “This closure of a
section on the A86 will adversely affect our village.
“There are three cafes in the area which will be affected by the closure. Most badly affected will be the Laggan Coffee Bothy as there will simply be no flow of traffic, the diversions will pass the other other two cafes but not this one. The loss of business could potentially be very damaging to this business.
“The timing of the proposed closure is less than ideal as the English school holidays will still be in full swing and additionally the area will still be flooded with many tourists, driving, touring vans, cyclists and walkers alike. Additionally, our own school year will have recommenced which itself provides another problem.
“The bus route including the school bus service will be totally disrupted with diversions for the buses being all the way out to Dalwhinnie - the diversion route should be via Dalwhinnie and not through Glen Truim as this very small road is not capable of handing large volumes of traffic.
“With only a minimal amount of passing places, the road certainly isn't wide enough to accommodate larger vehicles such as camper vans, caravan, buses and lorries. Unbelievably these types of vehicles do try
to use this road as an alternative to the extra mileage involved in the Dalwhinnie option.
“Clearly repair work must be carried out, but as a community we do object to the three week closure in such an important time of year.2
Newtonmore Community Council secretary Graham Fraser said: “We obviously have to live with the inconvenience but I wonder what their plans are if there is a major incident on the A9 between Dalwhinnie and Newtonmore or on the A889 between Drumgask and Dalwhinnie during the works.
“Are they prepared for that, as there is no obvious diversionary route?”
He added: “Being realistic, there is a lot that could be done to improve the A86.
“Amongst those things is a strengthening of the verges at various points, not only where there is a steep embankment but also where the road could be widened.
“These locations require vehicles to run off the road - intentionally or accidentally - on to the (some high) verges and in many cases potholes at the side.
“The Biallidbeag Farm to Craig Dhu House section is one of those parts that seems narrow in bits and could do with widening as far as is possible.
“It is mentioned they will be doing deep excavations - hopefully that might result in a slightly wider carriageway and better edges.”
He added on the diversion plans: “What will need to be watched by BEAR Scotland is traffic using the Glentruim road - also a blackspot in the recent past.
“It is not only unsuitable for large vehicles including lorries, caravans and camper vans, but also more two way traffic, and there will also be greater incidence of vehicles crossing the northbound carriageway at Dalwhinnie.”
Dalwhinnie Community Council chairwoman Jen Dickinson conceded the upgrade of the A86 would in the long term be beneficial.
But she said: “This A86 closure will push more vehicles through our village at speed which could be a problem.
“Speeding in Dalwhinnie is a big issue not helped by the limit set at 40mph. It’s already often exceeded by many vehicles including logging trucks, coach/holiday tour companies and more.
“Recently we’ve noticed an increase in cars, vans and other vehichles overtaking outside homes at the station road junction - this is a blind junction in the village centre with limited signage for some reason.
“We would urge any through traffic to respect the speed limit and keep to speed of 30mph if possible.
“Long term we will be campaigning and would like the limit reduced throughout the village to 30mph with ‘no overtaking markings’ implemented.
“We are a busy wee village with the Deerstalker cafe, Old School Hostel, Apiary cafe and distillery, many people stop off or factor in a stay incorporating the distillery.
Questions have been raised with BEAR Scotland for the way Laggan was informed but not Dalwhinnie.
Ms Dickinson pointed out: “Dalwhinnie residents often use this road - for example between doctor surgery and pharmacy.
“We were getting A9 works information for the far north east, such as at Caithness Helmsdale area, but relevant areas were being missed.
“This set of works is such an example that has been missed. I hope it helps highlight the fault and can assist to update the systems more appropriately.”
Kingussie Community Council chairman Ruaridh Ormiston said: “It is a real strain in remote communities to have these diversions and it is a worry there will not be any provision for emergency vehicle access without a lengthy and timely diversion.”
Ian Stewart, BEAR’s north west representative, said: “Road users travelling on the A86 between Newtonmore and Laggan will benefit from a reconstructed road as BEAR Scotland get set to undertake road recycling works on behalf of Transport Scotland in August.”
“The 1800m section of road, two miles west of Newtonmore requires full reconstruction.
“The £1.2 million works involve recycling 4450 tonnes of road material which is then reused to make the new road in as sustainable a way as possible.
“Road markings will also be upgraded as part of the works with new highly reflective materials again to improve road safety.
“Due to the nature and scale of this project requiring a deep excavation of the full road construction, the road will remain closed 24 hours per day for the three week duration of the works.
“Access to Newtonmore will remain open for business. Local road diversions will be in place.”
Eastbound traffic will be diverted along the A889, then onto the A9 where road users can rejoin the A86 at Kingussie.
Road users travelling westbound will be diverted along the A9, then the A889 where they can rejoin the A86 near Laggan.”
Mr Stewart explained: “These essential road reconstruction works will upgrade the existing road surface, greatly improving the quality and safety for road users.
“The recycling process we are using will allow all of the existing road material to be rejuvenated and reused in the new road construction. This makes the very best use of the existing road whilst minimising the need for newly quarried material.”
“We thank road users for their patience ahead of these road improvements.
“Local access to Newtonmore and Kingussie will be maintained at all times via diversion routes and both communities will very much remain open for business.”
