Lower speed limit put in place at Glenmore to protect pedestrians
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Temporary road traffic measures – including a 10mph speed limit reduction – have been put in place at a popular beauty spot to improve public safety ahead of what is expected to be another busy weekend.
It follows chaos on the Cairngorm Ski Road at Glenmore a week ago as visitors flocked to Loch Morlich and the surrounding area to enjoy the mini heatwave.
But concerned local Highland councillors have said the move is also because of longer standing concerns, and they want to revisit permanent measures after the end of the busy summer tourism season.
The speed limit has been reduced from 40mph to 30mph through an extended area from the Rothiemurchus Lodge bridge to the snow gates at Glenmore.
Officials had also hoped to introduce a 20mph limit at the busy central area for pedestrians by the Pine Marten restaurant and bar and the entrance to Forestry and Land Scotland's car park by the loch.
But that has had to be put on hold for now.
Parking is now banned on the left hand side of the ski road in the direction heading towards Cairngorm Mountain, and local access for residents is being protected.
Last Friday, there were cars parked on both sides of the road verges causing safety concerns and impeding traffic flow.
Representatives from the council, Cairngorms National Park Authority and FLS had an emergency meeting on site on Monday to look at improving the situation.
Police Scotland and Highland Council traffic enforcement officers have been asked to carry out visits to Glenmore.
Road signs were put in place yesterday highlighting the new limits although they are not official road orders, along with local barriers to protect residents' access.
Councillor Bill Lobban, local member for Badenoch and Strathspey, said: “Hopefully these new measures will improve the situation for residents and visitors alike especially in terms of road safety.
"Loch Morlich is a really popular place for tourists to visit and who can blame them but we must ensure that disruption to the lives of local people is kept to a minimum and that people can come here safely.
"There is a real road safety issue here – many motorists are driving at 40mph to 50mph."
One solution being looked at is opening up the Hayfield for parking at busy times in the summer.
Councillor Lobban said: "What we do need is more and better parking at Glenmore – people are going to park somewhere come what may."
There are no official footpaths at the busiest points by the road although a project to create a safe route away from the carriageway is due to begin soon.
It had been hoped the Cairngorms National Park Authority project – now being led by Forestry and Land Scotland – would be in place in time this summer but it has been delayed by the pandemic.
