Tranport bosses slammed over "unsafe" state of north A9 after landslip

The Scottish Government and Bear Scotland are in the firing line over the maintenance of the A9 in the north following a landslide at Helmsdale.

MP Jamie Stone and two Highland councillors have raised safety fears over the condition of the trunk road in the north Highlands after last Thursday’s incident.

Holyrood transport minister Michael Matheson (right) is now being urged to head north and look at the road for himself.

Jamie Stone said: “I travel the A9 between Caithness and Inverness as regularly as anyone and the continuing failure by the Scottish Government to properly maintain and improve the A9 is glaringly obvious.

“This sits most unhappily with the way the Scottish Government spends big bucks on roads further south.” Last week’s “frightening” incident saw a section of the embankment underneath the A9 collapse at West Garty, three miles south of Helmsdale.

The landslip affected the south bound carriageway and temporary traffic lights are in place.

Mr Stone has since written to Mr Matheson pointing out the reliance of the north Highlands on the A9.

He told him: “There is a growing perception that the Scottish Government has been concentrating attention and cash on roads in the south.

“Your coming north to meet with local communities and to discuss how the A9 can be significantly improved would be a positive step.”

Mr Stone also called on the Minister to progress improvements to the Cambusavie bends south of Loch Fleet.

Caithness councillor Karl Rosie said the A9 was a “lifeline” route and that he had been concerned for some time about the safety of various “pinch points”.

He said: “This event should focus minds on the economic challenges faced in the North Highlands.

“It is vital that the ongoing efforts to develop our economy are underpinned by good infrastructure and I urge all our elected members to lobby support to enable Transport Scotland to act as a matter of urgency and invest the required funding to rectify all these issues.” Cromarty Firth councillor Maxine Smith, leader of the opposition, said the safety issues on the A9 in the north were holding back economic development.

She described the state of the road at the site of the landslip as “frightening” and said: “Can you imagine what would happen if this road had to be closed completely, which is a very likely scenario given the state of the hanging cliff. “There would be no supplies, no bus transport, no vehicles in or out and no route to Raigmore Hospital, Inverness. The economy would crumble.

“This must be acted upon now. Travelling another three hours on alternative, single track roads to get to hospital is unacceptable”

She added: “NC500 is so successful but this would come crashing to a half if Transport Scotland do not act immediately I urge them to ensure the public and elected members are provided with an action plan and timescale.”

BEAR Scotland is the contractor that maintains the trunk road.

The firm’s north west representative Eddie Ross said geotechnical engineers had assessed the site of the landslip and extent of the embankment failure. Engineers were now working to design a repair.

He said: “In the meantime the temporary traffic lights will remain in place for safety and we will continue to monitor the issue.”

A spokesperson for Transport Scotland said: “The northern A9 is a vital lifeline route which supports commerce, industry, education, health, tourism and the social wellbeing of all the communities it serves.

“Transport Scotland recognises this and, through its trunk road management and maintenance contract, invests significantly in its maintenance.

“Since 2015, £13.8 million has been invested in road resurfacing, bridge repairs, street lighting, drainage and safety barrier maintenance, with that figure rising to £14.34 million once scheduled works are completed in October.”