The removal of trees from this section of the A82, following yesterday’s slippage and road closure has been completed.
However, significant concern remains regarding the safety of the slopes above the trunk road and the bridges along this section, which have been inundated with flood water.
Geotechnical and bridge inspections have been undertaken but given the continued very wet conditions and the weather forecast, the decision has been made to keep the A82 closed overnight tonight – 27th to 28th October.
Further inspections will be undertaken tomorrow morning and a further update issued.
The wet weather is due to continue into Tuesday. Motorists are encouraged to monitor conditions before setting out and plan their journeys by visiting the Traffic Scotland website for live updates. Transport Scotland is grateful to motorists for their continuing patience.
The diversion route
This is ginormous – over 161 miles – as noted in our Daily Travel Updates on the situation, over three times worse than the diversion for the A83 when it suffers slippages.
Northbound
Continue southbound on the A82 to Crianlarich – Follow the A82/A85 to Lochearnhead – Turn left onto the A85 and continue to Perth – Turn Left onto the A9 and continue to Dalwhinnie – Turn Left onto the A889 and continue to the A889/A86 Junction – Turn Left on the A86 and continue to Spean Bridge – Thereafter follow permanent signing
Southbound
Turn left onto A86 – Turn right onto A889 – Turn right onto A9 – Continue on the A9 to Perth – Continue on the A9 past Inveralmond Roundabout and take the offslip road to the A85. Turn right at the roundabout and continue on the A85 to Lochearnhead – Turn Right onto the A85 and continue to Tyndrum – Thereafter follow permanent signing.
Those who live in Morvern or elsewhere in the Ardnamurchan peninsula and who normally use the Corran Ferry are looking at the long haul out on the A830 Fort William – or two ferry journeys playing hopscotch across Mull to get to Oban.
There is a question to be answered on why the incident occurred – less the slippage in prolonged heavy rain than the nature of the slippage, with several very large tree trunks coming down the hill. Were these left in place rather then removed after being felled as part of last year’s works on this hillside to improve its stability?
It has been no less than miraculous that with five vehicles involved in the slippage yesterday, no one was badly hurt, or worse, with this material plunging onto the road.
The information deficit
For Argyll reader, Robert Wakeham noticed this morning that the Scottish Citylink website – 24 hours after the closure on the A82, was making no mention of the major service alterations to its three route using this section of the A82.
Pointing out the serious problem for some travellers in the additional time needed for so long a diversion as this one, he reports meeting no interest in resolving the matter until he indicated that he would address the matter to the company owners in Singapore. He also talked to West Coast Motors in Campbeltown, who subcontract some routes from Citylink and found them immediatley understanding of the issue and helpful.
Citylink then added the information shortly after noon and it is now visible on their website section ‘Alterations to Service’ where it should have been posted yesterday morning.
A further information deficit on this trunk road closure, this time affecting motorists.
Those travelling from the east of Scotland to the north west, using the M9 from Edinburgh and turning on to the A84 at Stirling to connect with the A82 at Crianlarich were being given no warning whatsoever at that side of the country, on the road closure and the long diversion they would encounter. Travellers from the east do have alternatives, if they know the situation before they set out.
Mr Wakeham has informed Traffic Scotland of this omission and it is being sorted out.
However, the matter highlights a flawed system of information gathering and incident reporting of public information in the necessary places – as in roadside signs where travellers are likely to be using affected roads; and on the information services of major transport providers.
