A9 dualling

[Berk]

Given the balanced nature of the objection, it will be interesting to read the reporter’s findings. It’s not an unreasonable proposal, far from it.

[Altnabreac]

It's a farm cottage which the owners of the farm let out.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/WQzfUgi35gCrmXJd6


This is from the original objection :
We would suggest that the location of the "The Sheiling" farm cottage is entirely incompatible with the scheme proposals and that this cottage should be replaced at an alternative location with a property of a similar size.

Given the balanced nature of the objection, it will be interesting to read the reporter’s findings. It’s not an unreasonable proposal, far from it.

I suspect Transport Scotland would be happy enough to buy the cottage if that would resolve the objection. The replacement at an alternative location bit however is not in the power of the Promoter as it would need a separate planning application to Highland Council.

I think it is more likely the nub of the objection is around the stock movements etc. Reading between the lines there seems to have been an old stock culvert that was silted up and the farm dug it out in 2016 to claim it was in constant use and needed replicating in the scheme. A stock crossing of the new A9 is obviously proposed but a crossing of the local access road seems overkill.

Some interesting discussion in the objection back and forths about some of the old A9 hard standing area the farm is using and claiming is being CPOed from them which it appears they don't actually own.

There is also a lot of "Get Off My Land" undertones about walkers and cyclists and strong objections to the parking area increasing riff raff in the area. This gives me limited sympathies to the objection to be honest.

I suspect it is mainly about positioning for any eventual DV financial compensation settlement.

[Altnabreac]

Inquiry sessions have now been scheduled for Tomatin to Moy over two and a half days between 27 and 29 August with a reserve day on 30 August.

There remain four statutory objections to the scheme of which two are to be dealt with by written submission. It is hoped that the objection from Network Rail can be resolved before the inquiry sessions but Mr and Mrs MacQueen of Dalmagarry Farm are maintaining an objection and wish to present oral evidence so it seem that unlike with the previous three schemes, there will be at least one inquiry/hearing session.

There are also two non-statutory objections but both of these are to be dealt with by written submissions.

Seems likely Network Rail and Farr Wind Farm will withdraw their objections prior to the inquiry sessions (if Network Rail can actually manage to properly define what their objection is first).

The F Glynne-Percy timber extraction objection I suspect won't be withdrawn so will be left for the reporter to deal with in the written submissions alongside the two non statutory objections.

[paully]

A temporary mini-roundabout is to be installed on the mainline of the A9 as part of the Luncarty to Pass of Birnam works. Strangely, it appears to only provide access to the construction compound. My initial response is that the compound could have been located somewhere off the existing Bankfoot junction to save the need for this. I remember during the Ballinluig junction upgrade that a temporary roundabout (not mini) was installed - presumably it's the same idea as this.

https://www.transport.gov.scot/news/a9- ... oundabout/

[Nwallace]

A temporary mini-roundabout is to be installed on the mainline of the A9 as part of the Luncarty to Pass of Birnam works. Strangely, it appears to only provide access to the construction compound. My initial response is that the compound could have been located somewhere off the existing Bankfoot junction to save the need for this. I remember during the Ballinluig junction upgrade that a temporary roundabout (not mini) was installed - presumably it's the same idea as this.

https://www.transport.gov.scot/news/a9- ... oundabout/

There isn't much room off the road at Bankfoot south, there's a visitor centre and housing between the A9 and the old A9, and a Burn next to the old A9; it's also LILO if heading south with central island blocking right turns; at the middle junction there's a decent amount of topography that would probably prevent a compound of the size seen in the picture anywhere other than next to the masts.

Looks like it's around about here:
https://www.bing.com/maps?osid=1b94c5b2 ... orm=S00027

What's most intresting about the picture is you can see the line of the new carriageway from the preparatory ground works

[Duncan macknight]

Roundabout has been installed on the A9 at Bankfoot. It’s quite a crude wee thing as it’s a mini roundabout with A9(N)/(S) or “Quarry” as options. Bridge for the Stanley Junction is taking shape nicely.

Also have to rant about the new God Awful RCS at Carrbridge northbound. From Aviemore to Tore, there seems to be a drive for English and Gaelic on signs. It’s about 7ish Metres tall with A9, (A99) and (A835) destinations. Despise it but I might know where to get the original...

[Nwallace]

Roundabout has been installed on the A9 at Bankfoot. It’s quite a crude wee thing as it’s a mini roundabout with A9(N)/(S) or “Quarry” as options. Bridge for the Stanley Junction is taking shape nicely.

Also have to rant about the new God Awful RCS at Carrbridge northbound. From Aviemore to Tore, there seems to be a drive for English and Gaelic on signs. It’s about 7ish Metres tall with A9, (A99) and (A835) destinations. Despise it but I might know where to get the original...

All new TS signs in the highlands are likely to be dual language...
Should really be Trilingual but anyway we continue to ignore the language of most of the lowlands and borders as we have since the 1650s.
But why does it "need" the (A99)? Have they signed the Dutch mins hoose?

[Glen]

There are also the bilingual signs at Granish, which they made a bit of mess of by getting the panels from two of the signs mixed up, so the text is misaligned.

I don't know why any signs south of Inverness are being replaced unless they are litteraly falling to bits, since their lifespan is limited, anyway.

But why does it "need" the (A99)? Have they signed the Dutch mins hoose?

Wick is a primary destination.

There are also fairly new RCSes on the Black Isle which include Wick and John o' Groats, but without mentioning "(A99)".

[Robert Kilcoyne]

Slightly off topic, but the Kessock Bridge, which is the subject of July's Photo Of The Month could become a listed structure and the third road bridge to receive listed status in Scotland, after the Forth Road Bridge and the Kylesku Bridge:-

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland- ... s-48824717

[Glen]

It would be the third modern road bridge in Scotland to be listed, but there are many older bridges which are listed buildings.

[rachandsarai]

Slightly off topic, but the Kessock Bridge, which is the subject of July's Photo Of The Month could become a listed structure and the third road bridge to receive listed status in Scotland, after the Forth Road Bridge and the Kylesku Bridge:-

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland- ... s-48824717

Which I shared this to Sabre just yesterday. It's supposed to be quake proof for extreme weather and earthquakes though Scotland doesn't get any earthquakes.

[GrahameCase]

Though Scotland doesn't get any earthquakes.

The British Geological Society might have something to say about that one... https://www.bgs.ac.uk/discoveringGeolog ... es/UK.html

[rachandsarai]

Though Scotland doesn't get any earthquakes.

The British Geological Society might have something to say about that one... https://www.bgs.ac.uk/discoveringGeolog ... es/UK.html

Wow I'm surprised it does get earthquakes.

[Glen]

There are unlikely to be any earthquakes severe enough to cause damage in Inverness, but the Kessock Bridge is built over the Great Glen Fault, so has buffers in the structure at the North end, which allow for some movement, should any occur.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Glen_Fault

[rachandsarai]

There are unlikely to be any earthquakes severe enough to cause damage in Inverness, but the Kessock Bridge is built over the Great Glen Fault, so has buffers in the structure at the North end, which allow for some movement, should any occur.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Glen_Fault

Never knew that but I never knew earthquakes even happened in Scotland. Hard to tell exactly when they are happening.

[djw1981]

From here, you can find out almost exactly when they are occurring, https://earthquakes.bgs.ac.uk/helicorder/heli.html

[Nwallace]

There are unlikely to be any earthquakes severe enough to cause damage in Inverness, but the Kessock Bridge is built over the Great Glen Fault, so has buffers in the structure at the North end, which allow for some movement, should any occur.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Glen_Fault

Never knew that but I never knew earthquakes even happened in Scotland. Hard to tell exactly when they are happening.

Scotland is split by 4 major geological faults,
Surprisingly perhapse the Border runs along one of them
The Southern Upland Fault splits the Borders and Galloway from the Lowlands
The Highland Boundary Fault splits the Lowlands from the Highlands, this is what formed the "Mounth" the drastic uplift you see all along it.
The Great Glen fault splits the Highlands from the West Highlands, caithness, sutherland etc.

What's you may be realizing now is that they also separate the different historic social structures of modern scotland


There's loads of minor faults too:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_g ... f_Scotland

[rachandsarai]

There are unlikely to be any earthquakes severe enough to cause damage in Inverness, but the Kessock Bridge is built over the Great Glen Fault, so has buffers in the structure at the North end, which allow for some movement, should any occur.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Glen_Fault

Never knew that but I never knew earthquakes even happened in Scotland. Hard to tell exactly when they are happening.

Scotland is split by 4 major geological faults,
Surprisingly perhapse the Border runs along one of them
The Southern Upland Fault splits the Borders and Galloway from the Lowlands
The Highland Boundary Fault splits the Lowlands from the Highlands, this is what formed the "Mounth" the drastic uplift you see all along it.
The Great Glen fault splits the Highlands from the West Highlands, caithness, sutherland etc.

What's you may be realizing now is that they also separate the different historic social structures of modern scotland


There's loads of minor faults too:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_g ... f_Scotland

I did find that earlier today plus Glen sent me map which included more fault lines.

[A9Dan]

Dalraddy to Slochd now finally with the DPEA. Considering the construction timescale for this scheme (4.5 years), it needs to start at least by mid 2021 in order to be completed in 2025. This leaves only 2 years for the PLI process plus procurement.

[A9Craig]

From the ES chapter 5

Still possible if we get Made Orders by the end of next year.