Old A9 bridge at the Slochd could be closed for many more months to come
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Highland Council has said that a road bridge closed on safety grounds at the Slochd is likely to remain shut until at least May but it could be much longer.
Road bosses acted without warning amid fears that the Slochd Cottages Railway Bridge on the U2400 road between Blackmount and Slochd could collapse onto the main Highland rail line below.
It is even feared that the road bridge – now blocked off by concrete posts – may not re-open at all following its closure in mid-October.
A Highland Council spokesman said: “We closed the Slochd Cottages Railway Bridge on the U2400 road between Blackmount and Slochd following a traffic survey showing that vehicles in excess of the 3T weight limit were using the bridge on a regular basis.
“This was exacerbated when the A9 was closed following a recent accident and a significant number of HGVs used the bridge.
“The decision to close the bridge was an emergency one, on the basis of the high risk of collapse due to repeated use by vehicles in excess of the weight limit, the likely mode of collapse being sudden and without warning, and the very high consequences of collapse of the structure onto the Highland main line.
“As the decision was a matter of public safety, a consultation was not carried out.
“We have apologised to residents and stated that communication around that should have been better.
“We intend to take this forward as a lesson learned for the future.
“We are currently working to identify and consider options for the future of the bridge. This will involve carrying out an inspection of the bridge to determine if any damage to the steelwork has occurred. We also intend to carry out a structural assessment of the bridge.
“As part of this process, we intend to consult with the local community on the options for the bridge, particularly if the inspection or structural assessment shows that the bridge cannot be reopened to vehicle traffic.
“Our outline programme for this options report is as follows: inspection (December 2022); consultation (late February 2023); options report issue (early May 2023).
“We will issue further details of the options being considered ahead of the consultation period and residents will have the opportunity to comment on these options ahead of the issue of the report.”
Slochd residents had expressed their concern in the Autumn over the bridge’s closure which means they now have to make a right hand turn and cross the A9 northbound lane on a notorious stretch in order to head south.
Ian Bishop said the time being taken for the inspection was ‘ridiculous’. He said they had yet to receive any notification from the council for the timetable.
He told the Strathy: “We have heard absolutely nothing. They are talking about half a year.
“I asked them to carry out a check on the bridge ASAP and it might be that it could be feasible for it to re-open to cars.
“The local people use the bridge and back road to get to the school in Carrbridge and such like.”
“It is ridiculous – totally and utterly ridiculous.”
His wife Liz said: “We have received no communication whatsoever from Highland Council.”
Related story:
Slochd road bridge closed because crossing was at risk of collapsing onto Highland main rail line
Vehicular access has been blocked off by concrete bollards to Slochd Cottages Bridge meaning the old A9 is closed on this section.
It remains open for pedestrians and other users.
Five lives have been lost in three separate fatal road accidents on the Slochd-Carrbridge stretch of the arterial road since the start of the summer.
Some Slochd residents claim police had been diverting HGVs onto the U2400 in the wake of local crashes despite the known damage being caused to the crossing – but the force has denied this.
