A9 - Berriedale Braes

J--M--B · Post by **J--M--B** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 21:54

Estate study focuses on Berriedale A9 upgrade

Estate study focuses on Berriedale A9 upgrade
By Iain Grant
Published: 12 March, 2008

A PRIVATE-sector bid is being launched to break the long-standing impasse in securing improvements to the A9 at the Berriedale Braes.

Calls for a flyover by local politicians and community groups over the past three decades have fallen on deaf ears, with the scheme failing to even get on to the drawing board..........................

J--M--B · Post by **J--M--B** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 23:35

From the Northern Times

Northern Times wrote:No plans for Berriedale A9 upgrade

Published: 02 April, 2009

REPLYING this week to local MSP Jamie Stone's request for a sight of plans and a planning update regarding improvements to the A9 at Berriedale, the Scottish Government has said there are "no current plans for improvements" and that accordingly it has not initiated any further design or costing studies.

In response to the point made by Mr Stone that the previous government had undertaken to cost proposals for this stretch of road, Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said: "I am sure you understand that any commitments made by my predecessors are not commitments of this Scottish Government."

Mr Stone said: "This is a real let down. And it is all the worse because it reneges on an earlier firm commitment.

"One would hope that transport planning would not be subject to the whim of government. Careful thought, including on-site meetings with ministers at Berriedale, took us to where we were – a proposal being brought forward with the needs of local people and businesses uppermost. Now it looks as if the Scottish Government, with other considerations far further to the south, have ditched the clear needs of the north."

ravenbluemoon · Post by **ravenbluemoon** » Fri Apr 03, 2009 19:46

Is the idea for Berriedale similar to the overpass at Dunbeath?

It's possibly the last "tricky" bit of the A9 left to Caithness, but I don't think it's that bad. It'd be interesting to think of narrow valleys further south and if they'd build anything similar there?

Post by **orudge** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 23:18

While I realise it's an area that probably does need improvement, I'll always have fond memories of driving up and down the A9 - Berriedale always marked a bit of a "milestone" on the route. Doesn't look like anything will be happening soon, though, for sure.

J--M--B · Post by **J--M--B** » Mon May 04, 2009 09:00

BBC News

Page last updated at 23:33 GMT, Sunday, 3 May 2009 00:33 UK

Fresh call for Berriedale flyover

New calls for a flyover to carry the A9 over the Berriedale Braes should be made to the Scottish Government, Highland Council officials have said.

In a report to Thursday's full council, they suggested making the plea jointly with Orkney Islands Council.

The A9 takes road traffic from central Scotland to the far north, where travellers can then catch ferries to the islands.

The braes are notorious for their steep descents and climbs.

Making a fresh call for a flyover is contained in a report which looks at Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership and the benefits to be sought from the decommissioning of the Dounreay nuclear complex near Thurso.

The braes are above the small community of Berriedale.

wrinkly · Post by **wrinkly** » Wed Apr 02, 2014 20:27

Option Selected for A9 Berriedale Braes hairpin

http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/New ... es-hairpin

rileyrob · Post by **rileyrob** » Fri Sep 19, 2014 13:56

Following the fire a few weeks back, which was probably not a result of the road, there was a fatal accident in the vicinity of the Braes last night - as was widely reported for holding up the ballot boxes from Caithness.
Whilst an exact location doesn't seem to have been reported in the press as yet, local information is that it was a local haulier on the steep hill at Berriedale. The road has just been fully reopened after 14 hours (latterly with traffic-signal controlled single lane running).

A comment I heard this morning was that the plans for the new stretch of road on the north side of Berriedale are insufficient, and that a bridge such as that at Helmsdale or Dunbeath is the only sensible option to overcome the apparent dangers of this stretch of road.

Glen · Post by **Glen** » Wed Dec 10, 2014 13:36

I noticed there was recently another public exhibition for this scheme and orders have been published.

http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/pro ... ent-scheme

This scheme is simply a realignment of the road to improve the radius of the hairpin bend on the north side. While not the most impressive upgrade in itself, as it only removes one of the issues at Berriedale - still leaving the long, steep gradients on either side which lack overtaking provision - it will hopefully be the start of upgrades on this stretch. Like the Ord of Caithness, it will hopefully see a series of schemes over several years to gradually bring it to a better standard.

Glen · Post by **Glen** » Wed Dec 10, 2014 13:54

rileyrob wrote:Whilst an exact location doesn't seem to have been reported in the press as yet, local information is that it was a local haulier on the steep hill at Berriedale.

The accident with the Cormack's truck was at the bend at the bottom of the south hill, right under the escape lane.

Given they had passed the escape lane, I would suggest that driver error was more likely than mechanical failure, although I expect an FAI will find out in more detail what the cause was likely to have been.

Bryn666 · Post by **Bryn666** » Wed Dec 10, 2014 17:23

The gradient should, ideally, be less of a major concern if the hairpin radius does require you to be in 1st gear to get around it - HGVs doing 15 is surely better than them doing 5.

85CF380 · Post by **85CF380** » Sat Dec 13, 2014 22:09

Berriedale in action. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fq6LH2-mMNE &
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhH-IEAR-NQ

Andy33gmail · Post by **Andy33gmail** » Sat Dec 13, 2014 22:17

In the first clip, why was the lorry stopped?

85CF380 · Post by **85CF380** » Sat Dec 13, 2014 22:38

Trailer malfunction?

Andy33gmail · Post by **Andy33gmail** » Sat Dec 13, 2014 22:44

Ran out of driver's hours and was worried about VOSA?

Sussex_Wolf · Post by **Sussex_Wolf** » Sat Dec 13, 2014 23:06

The scheme is an improvement certainly, but lacking the ambition that our European neighbours would apply to the same problem. The Norwegians would have built a beautiful flowing road all the way to Wick, and bored a tunnel to Orkney by now!

Burns · Post by **Burns** » Sun Dec 14, 2014 11:35

85CF380 wrote:Berriedale in action. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fq6LH2-mMNE

Coincidentally, the first video was filmed by a friend of mine who I worked with for a few years before he moved up to Orkney. When we met up a few months ago, he told me about the trapped lorry he encountered when driving down south.

haggishunter · Post by **haggishunter** » Sun Dec 14, 2014 18:09

Sussex_Wolf wrote:The scheme is an improvement certainly, but lacking the ambition that our European neighbours would apply to the same problem. The Norwegians would have built a beautiful flowing road all the way to Wick, and bored a tunnel to Orkney by now!

The estate on who's land a completely new alignment would have to pass commission some research into options a number of years ago and while there is still strong public support for a high level viaduct, the research indicated that it would very regularly be closed to High Sided vehicles due to topographic funnelling of the wind, thus the very vehicles that have the biggest problem with the braes and the hairpin bends would regularly have to use them when the viaduct was restricted.

Am slightly disappointed that the improvement that is planned isn't being done as 2+1 though.

Ruperts Trooper · Post by **Ruperts Trooper** » Sun Dec 14, 2014 18:41

haggishunter wrote:a high level viaduct, the research indicated that it would very regularly be closed to High Sided vehicles due to topographic funnelling of the wind, thus the very vehicles that have the biggest problem with the braes and the hairpin bends would regularly have to use them when the viaduct was restricted.

Why not create an "elevated tube" so that vehicles were effectively in a high level tunnel, not subject to wind forces - the sidewalls and roof of the "tunnel" only need to support their own weight and the external wind forces

Haydn1971 · Post by **Haydn1971** » Sun Dec 14, 2014 19:08

The alternative to get around the wind issue could be to tunnel/cut better approaches then cross at a lower level.

Glen · Post by **Glen** » Mon Apr 11, 2016 20:45

A public inquiry into the Berridale improvement scheme was held last week, due to a single objection concerning the stopping up of a private access.

The access in question is the point marked 5 on this drawing.

Which is this gate just below the bend.

The gate leads to what is basically a steep path to the back of the cottages to the north of the river.
The houses are normally accessed by a footbridge from a private access road to the south of the river. The objector is the owner of one of the houses (who currently doesn't live there).

Transport Scotland have deemed it necessary stop up the access due to its position on the outside of the bend and the gradient it meets the road at (hence poor visibility).
The objector insists he needs the access, despite it looking like it's not been used for many years (although he has suddenly felt the need to take a mini excavator down it to clear the vegetation).

Some reports from the inquiry give some more detail:
https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/ne ... y-get-way/
https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/ne ... fety-risk/
https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/ne ... yone-else/
https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/ne ... -objector/

I particularly like the following quotes:

Mr Johnston claimed he would only ever use a fully taxed and licensed quad bike to transport furniture and concrete along the track

the solicitor representing Transport Scotland at the inquiry, said that having a friend stationed on the main road to shout down to another to stop for traffic, was a “preposterous” suggestion.

Which is apparently how he going to use the access "safely".

SABRE