NEWS FROM TRANSPORT SCOTLAND
As you will already be aware, the route Action Plan produced for “The A82 Tarbet to Fort William Action Plan” outlines a ten year improvement programme for this strategically important route at a cost of some £90 million. Already approved by Ministers is a £16 million investment to be delivered over the next five years which includes improvements at Pulpit Rock between Tarbet and Ardlui and a new western bypass at Crianlarich.
Regarding work on the Crianlarich Bypass, a Geotechnical Investigation will be carried out on site later this year. The identification and development of the preferred route design, including all environmental, traffic and economic assessments will follow in preparation for the publication of draft orders and Environmental Statement which is anticipated by the end of the year. Provided that there is no requirement for a Public Local Inquiry, the Orders will be made in the first half of 2008 with preparation of contract documentation and advertising for interested contractors in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) to follow with a view to siteworks commencing in 2009.
Topographical and hydrographical surveys for the Pulpit Rock scheme will commence on site this year. Procurement of Phase 1 Geotechnical Investigation will also be undertaken. The results of this, together with those from the stage 2 assessment process, will be used to establish route options. The environmental impact assessments and stage 2 traffic and economic assessment will also be carried out. The stage 2 assessment should be completed in 2008 along with the Phase 2 Geotechnical Investigation on the preferred route. Development of the preferred route design will commence using the results of the Phase 2 Geotechnical Investigation with environmental and detailed traffic and economic assessments following on from this in preparation for the publishing of draft orders and Environmental Statement. The intention is for these to be published early in 2009 and provided that there is no requirement for a Public Local Inquiry to make the Orders by the end of that year. Preparation of contract documentation and advertising for interested contractors in the OJEU would then follow with a view to siteworks commencing in 2010.
As well as the above major schemes, further improvements are actively being looked at involving substantial upgrading of the A82 over two other sections, these being located South of Inverarnan and also between Tarbet and Inveruglas with programmed dates for commencement of these improvement works being expected in financial years 2009/10 and 2010/11 respectively.
As you already realise, there are temporary traffic lights in place on the A82 at a point approximately one mile north of Inveruglas, these having being necessitated for safety reasons. During safety inspections, defects were found which indicated the possibility of an embankment failure and until such times as a full survey can be undertaken and strengthening works commenced, the control of traffic over this very short section of road will remain a feature although it is hoped that this safety measure will be short term. The permanent repairs have been identified and will be undertaken in April 2007 and after the Easter Weekend holiday to minimise delays to tourist traffic. In the meantime the road will continue to be the subject of safety inspections every seven days and any major safety defects will be addressed by temporary repairs.
One final aspect concerning the A82 is in relation to the delaminated areas of the road surface which are particularly evident in close proximity to Pulpit Rock and also the location of the temporary traffic lights. In order to deal with this problem, the erection of temporary signing to advise road users of the introduction of an advisory 20mph speed restriction and warning of temporary road surface pending planned maintenance works in April 2007 is in the process of being put in place over the sections concerned. Maintenance works are programmed immediately following the Easter Weekend holiday and will be carried out under overnight road closures to minimise any associated disruption.
