Work under way on £1m project to instal level crossing barrier in Aviemore
Work has finally started on a railway barrier at the Dalfaber level crossing after more than 20 years of calls for the safety addition.
Aviemore residents living east of the Dalfaber Drive steam railway line are bracing themselves for disruption during the work at the crossing over the Strathspey Stream Railway line.
The crossing is scheduled to be closed overnight Wednesday and Thursday evenings starting this week until Thursday December 1.
The works are being undertaken by Scotia Homes, Highland Council and the Strathspey Railway as a condition of the housing developer's planning approval for 75 homes over the other side of the crossing off Dalfaber Drive.
A diversion is being put in place via the Spey Bridge, Old Dalfaber Road and Dalnabay which is little more than a footpath during the closures but the only available access.
A spokesperson for Highland Council said: “The developer, Scotia Homes and Strathspey Railway have confirmed that they have agreement with the landowners to use the route indicated and the gate (by the railway workshops) will not be an issue.
"A traffic management company will be setting up the diversion and monitoring the signage during the closures.”
The existing level crossing was created by Highland Regional Council when Dalfaber Drive was built across the line in 1978.
It is now the only remaining automatic crossing with no barriers on a public road anywhere in Scotland.
The works are expected to cost in the region of £1m and are being funded by Scotia Homes
They involve the complete renewal of the crossing surface, installation of new rails, sleepers and ballast through the crossing, new traffic lights, half barriers, resurfacing of the approach roads, new highway signage, new street lighting and a new pathway to the north of the crossing.
A Strathspey Railway spokesperson said: "The work cannot be carried out without closing the road completely for short periods from 8pm until 7am on these dates.
"The road closure will apply between the junctions to Dalnabay and Cairnview Road. Access to the new Badenoch and Strathspey Community Hospital will not be affected.
Access will be available for emergency services.
In addition to the night time work there will also be day-time working but earlier this afternoon traffic was flowing well without major tailbacks at the traffic lights.
