Tree felling at Ralia blackspot on the A9 is a ‘start’
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Motorists at an infamous A9 junction in Badenoch can now see the road for the trees after a campaign to clear the worst offenders.
In August, last year, the Strathy revealed that locals motorists were finding the Ralia junction near Newtonmore ‘scary’ because 30 feet trees were obscuring the view of the trunk road.
Local Highland councillor Russell Jones took up the fight at the accident blackspot and this week was delighted to see thatBEAR Scotland had finally taken action.
He told the Strathy: “I was very pleased to see the improvements to sight lines with some of the trees now felled at Ralia junction.
“When I initially contacted BEAR to voice local concerns about the sight lines their response was that they met minimum requirements.
“I replied that surely they should be trying to maximise the vision for drivers at such a dangerous junction and thankfully they have improved things now.
“ Thank you to the Strathy for helping to raise awareness last year.”
But, Mr Jones stressed, the story is far from over.
He said: “The junction is still dangerous as vehicles turning south have to cross the north bound lane to join the carriageway.
“Unfortunately we have five of these type of A9 junctions in Badenoch and Strathspey.”
He added that there were still serious issues across the strath at Dalwhinnie, Ralia, Lynwilg, Granish and Carrbridge.
“We are all aware of the many tragic accidents at these junctions over the years.
“As the long promised dualling of the A9 seems as far away as ever surely the Scottish Government could spend some money in Badenoch and Strathspey to improve these junctions and make them safer.
“They could be aligned to suit the future dualling – whenever that may be.”
Recent incidents on the A9, including more tragic deaths, have underlined the desperate need for urgent action, local councillors and Holyrood representatives from the strath and beyond contend.
Strathspey MSP Fergus Ewing (SNP) is already at odds with his own government over broken promises on the upgrade of the A9.
Calling for urgent action at Ralia, he told the Strathy: "The biggest danger on the single carriageway sections are the junctions where vehicles joining the A9 have to cut across the flow of traffic to join their lane.
"Unfortunately we have five of these in Badenoch and Strathspey.
“We are all aware of their numerous tragic accidents over the years and they all need to be urgently upgraded.”
But the removal of many of the offending trees at Ralia has been seen by many locals as at least a start to the im-provements desperately needed.
