Highland Council winter road condition and school closure report for Thursday 15 January 2015
Road condition and gritting treatment reports by The Highland Council’s Community Services for the morning of Thursday 15 January 2015 (11am) are as follows:
Skye and Lochalsh
Treatment is on-going along the Mam Ratagan Pass to Glenelg which is affected by snow and high winds. Posted 15/1 08:34
Caithness and North Sutherland
There is some snow and slush on highest parts of routes in North Sutherland with frost and icy patches on the rest of the area roads. There are wet roads with occasional frosty patches in Caithness. Treatment of Priority 1 and 2 routes is underway as required. Posted 15/01 08:34
South Sutherland and East Ross
All roads are affected by patchy ice, slush and some hard packed snow and are being treated as required. Posted 15/1 08:41
Nairn
All roads are wet and teams are checking higher routes for any ice and hard packed snow. Posted 15/1 08:41
Badenoch and Strathspey
Patrols are out this morning checking all routes. Yesterday's snow is thawing slowly. So roads are generally clear but with surface water due to the snow melt. Deep slush remains in untreated areas, mainly in the villages and any side roads untreated yesterday. There are some icy patches due to drifting snow on high routes. Work to clear all routes is underway today before conditions freeze again and the forecast snow showers return. Posted 15/1 08:34
Ross and Cromarty
Wintery showers are continuing and teams are checking routes for slush and hard packed snow. In Wester Ross the Bealach Na Ba road remains closed. Posted 15/1 09:02
Lochaber
All roads are clear and passable. There are several problems due to heavy snow during the night including 6"-10" on the Carnoch-Lochaline road which the vehicles have managed to clear to keep the road open. A large number of localised flooding reports are coming in and been dealt with. Posted 15/1 09:13
The Corran Ferry is not currently operating due to high winds and is likely to stay off for most of today.
Inverness
The B862 Inverness to Fort Augustus Road is closed between Whitebridge and Fort Augustus due to drifting snow. Signs advising road users are in place at both ends of the road. The A862 Inverness to Beauly road is affected badly by standing water and teams are in attendance. Emergency services are in attendance and diverting drivers. High rural routes are affected by heavy snow particularly at Tomatin and Drumnadrochit so crews are out treating these roads. Posted 15/01 09:24
Maps of the Council’s gritting routes by priority and policy are available online for: Badenoch and Strathspey; Caithness and North Sutherland; Inverness; Lochaber; Nairn; Skye and Lochalsh; South Sutherland and East Ross; and Wester Ross and Black Isle.
The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
Highland has the longest road network of any council in Scotland and it is not possible to treat every road at the same time. A priority system is applied to treat the areas in greatest need first.
Trunk roads are gritted by BEAR Scotland (North West) for Transport Scotland.
Road closures:
Newhall Bridge B9163 on the Black Isle is closed until further notice, due to structural damage and Struie Hill Road B9176 remains closed due to fallen trees. In Wester Ross the Bealach Na Ba remains closed due to snow. The B862 Inverness to Fort Augustus Road is closed between Whitebridge and Fort Augustus due to snow and the A862 Inverness to Beauly road is closed between Bunchrew and Inchmore due to significant surface water.
School Closures:
As at 11:30 today the following 8 schools are closed:
Aviemore Primary (no water/heating/power)
Gergask Primary and nursery (bad weather)
Kingussie High (bad weather)
Kingussie Primary and Nursery (bad weather)
Newtonmore Primary and Nursery (bad weather))
Strathconon Primary and Nursery (bad weather)
Strathdearn Primary and Nursery (no water/heating/power)
Watten Primary (no water/heating/power)
Obsdale Primary Nursery is also closed but the school itself remains open.
The total number of school and nursery pupils affected is 1,081.
The situation is continually changing so an up-to-date list through the day up until 6pm is provided by visiting the council’s school closure website www.highland.gov.uk/schoolclosures. Tomorrow morning parents and carers are advised to check this site from 7am onwards or use the school closures phone line on 0800 564 2272 using the PIN number for their school (which is also available at http://www.highland.gov.uk/schoolclosures) for further information updates.
Bettyhill Service Point and Fort Augustus Service Point are both closed today so anyone with any queries should contact 01349 886606.