Improvements to be made to A9 bridge where couple were killed

Road chiefs have warned motorists to expect delays next week whilst maintenance work is carried out on the A9 Findhorn Bridge on the A9.

The repairs will be to the bridge on the northbound dual carriageway which has come in for criticism in recent months for the state of the road on the crossing.

It comes after Robert and Valerie Macdonald were killed when their Harley Davidson motor-tricycle overturned on the section of the bridge at around 5.20pm on Saturday August 25.

The couple were on their way home in torrential rain from the Thunder in the Glen rally in Aviemore.

Since the accident there has been strong feeling in the biking community that the condition of the road was a contributing factor in the couple’s death.

Mr George McGuire organises Thunder in the Glen and co-ordinated a Harley Davidson cortege for the Macdonalds’ funeral at the request of the couple’s family.

Mr McGuire said: "Local bikers have commented that the inside lane is badly rutted. They say it’s a bad surface to ride on and they deliberately ride in the outside lane when going round that corner.

"Also it’s quite an open, windy spot, and the wind can catch you as you go round the corner."

Mr Jim Anderson, of Callart Road, Aviemore, is a keen biker. He works as a driver with the Stagecoach bus company and runs his own taxi business.

He said the potential danger of the road on the Findhorn Bridge had been known about for some time.

"I’m on that road two to four times a week, in the coach or the taxi or on my bike, and like every driver in this area I know always to go over to the outside lane," he said.

"My theory, which is shared by everybody in the bike world, is that Robert hit the first couple of bumps and the wind caught the bike and flipped it over. "

Scotland TranServ said the works will be carried out during investigation works for a more extensive bridge deck refurbishment project due to take place in 2013/14.

The scheme will involve improvements to a 250 metre section of surfacing.

A spokesman for the contractor said: "The works are programmed to take place over two days - November 13 and 14 - between 7am and 6pm.

"For the safety of the public and our workforce, traffic management will be in place in the form of a single lane closure, a 10mph speed restriction and convoy working."

He said that emergency vehicles will have unrestricted access at all times.

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