Stromeferry Bypass Closure

• TRAC presentation at public meetings in Achmore and Lochcarron 13/14 Feb (922kb pps)
• Photo Galleries: Landslide 22 December / Repair of the rock fall
  
• Council regrets further delays to reopening of Stromeferry Bypass (21/02/12)
• Passenger Ferry Timetable - updated 14 February 2012 (24kb pdf)
• Presentation from 18 Jan public meeting (PowerPoint, 1.9 MB)

The A 890 Lochcarron – Kyle/Plockton road has been closed since 22 December, last year, as the result of landslides and the continuing danger of further rock fall. The Highland Council has awarded a contract to TRAC Engineering Ltd to make safe the rockface, which is located 100 yards west of the Avalanche Shelter, and reopen the road as quickly as possible. TRAC have encountered greater challenges than anticipated and this, combined with adverse weather at the weekend, has resulted in them advising the Council that the revised partial re-opening date of 27 February cannot be met. No new date is being given due to the unpredictability of the works required to make the rockface safe. TRAC have 40 workers sharing 24-hour working on the site. Talks are being held with Network Rail to establish the necessary measures needed to permit cars to divert on to the adjacent railway line.

Scotrail have provided an extra train service between Inverness and Kyle, which arrives at Plockton High School in time for the start of the school day. They return home by bus and passenger ferry which plies between North and South Strome.

• Passenger ferry: Timetable (pdf 85kb).The passenger ferry will operate a limited service on Sunday.
  
  
• Car Ferry: A 6-car turntable ferry is shuttling across the Strome Narrows from Monday to Saturday between 7am - 6pm. Priority is given to local drivers via the issue of tokens.

As a matter of urgency, the Council is examining long term options for replacing the by-pass, including a bridge across the Strome Narrows, a new by-pass and an extension of the avalanche shelters.