Contingency plans to combat closure of Stromeferry By-pass

The Highland Council is examining a number of short and longer term measures to combat disruption on the A 890 Stromeferry By-pass between Lochcarron and Plockton/Kyle, which has been closed since 22 December following a series of rockfalls.

The main east-west road diversion remains the A82/A87 trunk road and the Inverness – Kyle rail service is unaffected. Emergency services are able to operate either side of the road closure.

Consultants are currently assessing the rockface at a point 100 yards west of the Avalanche Shelter. However, it is apparent that significant works will be required to stabilise the rock slope, and in the event that the road does not re-open to traffic in the near future, a number of contingency arrangements are being planned.

The public is advised that the road is closed to both cars and pedestrians due to risk of further rock fall.

The Leadership of the Council met at Inverness today (Thursday) to consider a report prepared by Neil Gillies, Director of Transport, Environmental and Community Services. At the same time, a multi-agency meeting was held in Dingwall to consider the response to the closure. This involved representatives from the council, police, ambulance service and Network Rail.

A number of short term options are being considered to open the A890 to essential local traffic, under supervision and traffic control.  In addition the option of a passenger ferry is also being explored.

Plockton High School re-opens on Monday 9 January and the Education Culture and Sport Service will confirm arrangements tomorrow (Friday). This is most likely to involve the 60 pupils from the Lochcarron area travelling to school by train, arriving in Plockton at 11.16 am, returning home on the 5.26 pm service.  The school is able to compensate for the loss of the first two periods of education by extending the school day. 

Council Leader Michael Foxley said: “We are acutely aware of the disruption caused by the ongoing closure of this busy route between Lochcarron and Plockton/Kyle and the significant diversion that is involved.  At the same time, safety is paramount and this is foremost in our minds as we strive to find short, medium and longer term solutions to the problem of an unstable rockface.”

Councillor John Laing, Chairman of TEC Services Committee, added: “We are working closely with a number of partner agencies to find ways of easing the inconvenience being experienced in the local communities by this closure.  There are a number of contingency measures being considered and if the road is not reopened in the near future these will be put in place as a matter of urgency.”

Background

The A 890 Stromeferry By-pass opened in 1969. It was built for Ross & Cromarty County Council by Duncan Logan.

There has been a long history of unstable rock slopes since the road was opened, and a number of contracts have been let to carry out works to stabilise the rock slopes.

Current Position

There were no rock falls in the months immediately prior to 8 December 2011 which gave any warning of the major falls which have occurred since that date. 

The road is inspected daily and also undergoes a major monthly inspection. On 8 December the road was closed overnight due to a rock fall which was cleared and the road re-opened. On 22 December there was a rock fall of about 100 tonnes around 09:30 and the road was closed – it has not reopened.

Work continued to clear the rock on 22 and 23 December and a specialist contractor was brought in to dislodge any rock above the road deemed to be in imminent danger of collapse.  By midday it became apparent that there was at least 3 days more work needed to make the road safe.  The contractor stood down at dusk on the 23 December.

De-scaling work recommenced on 28 December and was completed by dusk on the 30 December.

It was intended to reopen the road the following morning, however there was another overnight fall of about 100 tonnes on the 30/31, so it was not safe to reopen the road.

Also on the 28 December a consulting engineer was mobilised to assess the stability of the rock face.  He advised on the 31 December that more extensive survey was necessary to establish what needed to be done to make the area safe.

A full survey is being undertaken this week. The debris from the fall on the 30/31 December has been removed but the face above remains dangerously unstable, and the road remains closed on grounds of safety.

Rail Timetable

Current timetable:

Strathcarron    to         Plockton          to         Kyle
10:46                           11:16                           11:28
12:43                           13:13                           13:26
15:17                           15:46                           15:59

Kyle                 to         Plockton          to         Strathcarron
06:21                           06:33                           07:02
12:03                           12:14                           12:45
14:35                           14:47                           15:20
17:15                           17:26                           17:55