Slochd road bridge closed as it was in danger of collapsing onto Highland main rail line
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Highland Council has said it had to make an emergency closure of a road bridge at the Slochd as continued use would have put it at high risk of collapsing without warning onto the Highland main railway line with potentially tragic consequences.
But local residents have claimed as a result their lives are now being endangered by vehicular access being blocked off by concrete bollards to Slochd Cottages Bridge meaning they have to cross the busy A9 to head south.
Five lives have been lost in three separate fatal road accidents on the Slochd-Carrbridge stretch of the arterial road in just the past four months.
Highland Council engineers shut the small road bridge on the U2400 road – part of the old A9 – to the Blackmount junction north of Carrbridge a little over a week ago.
The blocks were installed at either end of the crossing after a traffic survey revealed the structure had been considerably weakened by significant numbers of vehicles in excess of the three tonne weight limit using the bridge.
Residents claim police have been diverting HGVs onto the back road in the wake of road closures at the Slochd despite flagging up the danger to lorry drivers and the damage being caused to the crossing.
Households want local access reinstated as soon as safely possible and a width restriction on traffic that can use it.
Liz Bishop told the Strathy: “Highland Council has not even reassured us that the bridge will open again.
“We now have to go north and do a right-hand turn over the northbound carriageway of the A9 to head south to Carrbridge rather than using the back road.
“It is far too dangerous to be doing this – people know how bad this part of the road is already but it is the only option we have.”
Mrs Bishop continued: “It would not be so bad if we hadn’t told the police they should not be diverting traffic down there but they still did and now the bridge is damaged.”
She said after the fatal accident on September 16: “I spoke to the police’s call centre and explained how dangerous the situation is and they said they would pass the message on – but you do not actually get to speak to anyone seriously.
“I cannot image how those lorry drivers felt when they knew they were going to drive over a bridge with a 3T limit on it – it must have been horrendous.”
Fellow resident Callum MacLean pointed out: “It is going to be even worse in the winter as the plough on the A9 goes straight by the junction and because we are a non-essential route to the council the plough on our road does not come down until midday if it comes at all.
“The bellmouth does not get treated so we are sitting there waiting to get onto the A9 in slippery conditions trying to gain traction to get onto the fast section of road.”
He is keen for local access to be returned as his wife Lana and their two young children Malcolm and Callum are having to cross the A9 to head to Carrbridge Primary School.
Mr MacLean said: “A simple 6ft 6in width restriction would stop heavy traffic going over the bridge.”
Carrbridge and Vicinity Community Council discussed the matter in detail at their latest meeting last Thursday.
Chairwoman Helen Deery said: “We are very concerned that eight households are being forced to make a right turn onto the A9 to gain access to the school, the village shop, café and hotels.
“Sadly, as we are all aware a number of fatal road traffic accidents have occurred on this stretch of the A9 very recently.
“While we do realise and acknowledge the bridge has structural issues, we would urge that in the short term while these are being looked at, that the occupants could use the bridge for access to the village be that by lock and key or some other mechanism.”
A council spokesman said a traffic survey had shown vehicles over the 3T weight limit were using the bridge on a regular basis.
He said: “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, but we acknowledge our communication of the closure of the bridge to local residents and businesses was inadequate and we will take this forward as a lesson learnt for the future.
“The bridge will remain closed while the council considers options for the future of the bridge.
“This will include an inspection and structural assessment of the bridge, a study of options for reopening this bridge, including replacement or strengthening, and considering the consequences of the bridge remaining closed.
“The community will be consulted during this process to get their views on the proposed options. A decision on the future of the bridge will be taken once the consultation and options report is complete.
“We intend to issue a timescale for the consultation and production of the report in the next few weeks.”
Police have stressed they do not divert heavy goods traffic onto the old A9 as it is not suitable.
Inspector Donnie MacKinnon, Roads Policing Unit for Police Scotland, said: “Quite often and prior to police or roads operator attendance and direction, some drivers will take it upon themselves to use local routes and minor roads as a means of avoiding waiting in queuing traffic or using the advised diversion.
“The immediate priority of attending officers is to deal with or assist those at the actual collision scene so it is inevitable that some drivers will make their own decisions until directed otherwise.
“Police attempt to mitigate this by circulating early messaging through media channels and roadside electronic variable message signs.
“Should there be a road closure at Slochd, traffic is diverted, as per the Standard Incident Diversionary Route agreed with Transport Scotland and BEAR, northbound via the turn off the A9 at Granish and onto the A95 to Grantown and then the A939 to Nairn, and southbound via A96 eastbound to Nairn, thereafter the A939 to Grantown onto the A95 to Granish.
“Every collision can pose a unique set of challenges, however, stacking of HGVs is an option on this section of the A9 and something we will continue to discuss with the Transport Scotland and BEAR and consider in the circumstances of a collision.”
The bridge remains open for pedestrians and cyclists.
