The Highland Council has selected TRAC Engineering Ltd to carry out stabilisation works on the A 890 Stromeferry Bypass which takes traffic between Wester Ross and Lochalsh/Skye and has been closed due to the danger of rockfall since 22 December, last year.
Following a rockfall, emergency works were undertaken which did not leave a stable rock slope but which did protect the rail line. Urgent tenders were then invited from specialist rope access rock slope contractors, and the tenders were evaluated on both quality and price. TRAC tendered a very detailed submission, which clearly identified their understanding of the issues, their detailed proposals to resolution whilst mitigating risk to their workforce and the travelling public, with the clear aim of re-establishing traffic on the road as soon as is practical.
TRAC will work in partnership with The Highland Council and its specialist consultant URS, and together with Network Rail will agree the detailed proposals and programme for completion.
Works will commence as soon as method statements and all rail line protections have been agreed with Network Rail and health and the safety issues have been addressed. TRAC are planning to have both day and night shift operations and are confident to have made sufficient progress to enable the Council to partially reopen the road on the 17th February.
Their proposals are to provide robust protection to the rail line and then remove all the loose rock material by scaling and the road will need to remain closed for this stage. Netting of the slope will then be undertaken which will allow the road to be opened during the day, currently envisaged to be 08.00 to 18.00.
During night time road closures TRAC would then undertake additional rock anchor and netting works, to render the slope stable into the future. It is envisaged that works will be complete by the 17th March when the road will be fully opened to traffic.
During the works an evaluation of the full length of the rock slopes will be undertaken, and other precautionary works will be undertaken as necessary.