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PICTURES: A sight for sore eyes in Aviemore....


By Gavin Musgrove

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The lights have been removed from Dalfaber Drive on the approach to the junction with Grampian Road.
The lights have been removed from Dalfaber Drive on the approach to the junction with Grampian Road.

Roadworks at a busy Aviemore junction have finally been removed after causing lengthy tailbacks – and huge frustration – on the village's main thoroughfare for many weeks.

The work was due to be all completed over a week ago but is still far from finished.

Highland Council announced last week that the four sets of temporary traffic light would be removed as the traffic queues grew by the day – to more than a kilometre at peak times for northbound traffic on Grampian Road – with the main tourism season now here.

And they were taken away late this afternoon much to the delight of local motorists.

The exit heading north from Burnside Avenue has become a blind corner.
The exit heading north from Burnside Avenue has become a blind corner.

However, it is not all good news. Residents who live on or off Burnside Road – one of Aviemore's most populous areas – have been left with a blind turn off their road if heading north out of the village.

There is no visibility with vehicles currently having to inch out onto busy Grampian Road or be flashed out by on-coming traffic heading north.

Even standing on the corner of the Burnside Avenue junction little can be seen of approaching traffic.
Even standing on the corner of the Burnside Avenue junction little can be seen of approaching traffic.

Rhonna Minard, who lives on Burnside Road, is one of those who has had to negotiate the new danger.

She told the Strathy: "I was flashed out by a car because I could not see a thing and nearly got hit by a BMW. It is not the other driver's fault as they will not be able to see a thing either of cars trying to get out of Burnside Avenue.

"It is ridiculous, very dangerous and an accident waiting to happen."

The barrier extending north along Grampian Road from Burnside Avenue.
The barrier extending north along Grampian Road from Burnside Avenue.

Andy Rockall has alerted local drivers on the village's social media forum.

He posted: "The traffic lights have gone from Grampian Road, Dalfaber Drive and Burnside Avenue after the road has been 'made safe'.

"The trouble is they've erected a massive high fence obscuring sight lines at both junctions.

"How long until an accident. I'd say not very."

Chrissie Fraser posted: "I nearly went into someone coming out of Burnside just now. Very scary."

Lynne Maguire stated: "Crazy. Surely they can't leave it like that. My friend pulled out in front of a car."

Darren Ross posted: "Crazy - nearly had a head on there."

There are still roadworks in place at the Dlafaber Drive junction which is restricing some visibility foir traffic heading south into Aviemore.
There are still roadworks in place at the Dlafaber Drive junction which is restricing some visibility foir traffic heading south into Aviemore.

The junction coming out of Dalfaber Drive and turning south into the village is restricted but not as bad as Burnside Road which is now a blind junction for those heading north.

Aside from the obvious danger for some local residents, there is delight that many weeks of hold-ups have come to an end for now.

There is now an end to the long tailbacks which have caused frustration for more than a month in Aviemore.
There is now an end to the long tailbacks which have caused frustration for more than a month in Aviemore.

However, the council has said its contractors will return to the site in the Autumn to complete the work.

The local authority and Sustrans have confirmed that improvement works to the Grampian Road and Dalfaber Drive junction are being paused until September.

They had originally been scheduled to take around 10 weeks.

And this appears to be on the whole the sum total of what has been achieved after nearly three months of traffic delays.
And this appears to be on the whole the sum total of what has been achieved after nearly three months of traffic delays.

It has been taking more than 20 minutes to get through the village at peak times rather than three or four, with claims of little actually progress on the ground. There were even reports of the traffic queuing all the way back to La Taverna at the opposite end of the Aviemore on one particularly busy day.

Highland Council promises a respite from roadworks frustrations


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