Defects probed as road is washed away

16 July 2008

The stretch of the A7 where a section of embankment was washed away by torrential rain last week was subject to investigation at the time, Surveyor has learned.

Operating company BEAR Scotland confirmed that its geotechnical engineer was investigating evidence of structural defects at Auchenrivock, two miles south of Langholm at Broomholm, where the landslide occurred last Thursday.

The road will not be fully operational until mid-August, but BEAR hopes to open it for single traffic by Friday 25 July. As Surveyor went to press, specialist tree-removal contractors were due to finish clearing trees between the road and the River Esk.

It is estimated that around 10,000t of rock fill material will be needed to stabilise the embankment, and at least 60m of carriageway has to be replaced.

BEAR’s sub-contractor, Highland Quality Contracts, was due to construct a temporary ramp down from the A7 at the south end of the landslip, allowing it to start replacing the failed material in the landslip with rock fill. It aims to have the road open to a single lane of traffic with temporary lights, on a temporary running surface, by next Friday.

The road will then be closed for a week to complete the reinstatement of the slope and carriageway works, then opened with traffic light restrictions while a safety barrier is installed, before being fully opened in mid-August.

BEAR Scotland’s director for the Southeast, John Murphy, said: ‘We understand the impact this is having on the local community and have sought a potential solution to allow the route to be opened on a temporary basis over the weekend of the Langholm Common Riding.

‘This is a particularly difficult site which has specific challenges for contractors carrying out the repair works. We are making every effort to ensure this happens.’ Local diversions are in place, but are only suitable for cars and light goods.

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Defects probed as road is washed away

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