Dozens of motorists were left angry today – after a crater-like pot hole on the A9 costs thousands of pounds in damage to cars.
Around 10 vehicles were left lined-up along the flagship A9 Inverness to Perth road on Sunday after suffering punctures near Carrbridge.
After reporting the damage emergency repairs were carried out on the road by Bear Scotland workers.
Officials have confirmed the road is now “safe to use.”
The incident has led to fresh calls for more progress on the A9 dualling project.
Last month, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was urged to accelerate the £3billion A9 upgrade.
‘Routine maintenance needs to continue’
Pictures taken by angry motorists from the scene show the large crater, situated along the edge of the southbound carriageway.
On social media one man warned others, he said: “South at Carrbridge, Huge pothole, at least 10 cars with puncture.”
Another man said: “They did a temporary repair on that one a few weeks back. Bodge job.”
Councillor Ken Gowans, chairman of Highland Council’s economy and infrastructure committee said: “We work closely with Bear Scotland on these things but it is quite disappointing that a pothole of this size has been allowed to have eroded to that stage.
“The first concern is of the safety of people and also secondary damage to vehicles.
“There are inspections that take place regularly but we would hope that in future, potholes like this would be noticed before they cause damage.”
It is understood to be the second time the pothole has been repaired.
A Bear Scotland spokeswoman said: “Police Scotland made Bear Scotland aware of the pothole earlier today. It has now been filled and the road is safe to use.”
Angry motorists raised the alarm shortly after 11:30am as traffic was brought to a standstill by the disruption.
The busy trunk road remained open as works to repair the road surface were carried out.
Police were also called to the A9 to help assist motorists and keep the traffic moving.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 11.40am on Sunday, 24 July, police were called to the A9 near Carrbridge to assist a number of vehicles with damage caused by a pothole.
“Bear were contacted to repair the pothole.”
A9 dualling
Badenoch and Strathspey councillor Bill Lobban is calling for greater progress to be made on the A9 dualling project.
He says dualling the trunk road between Slocht and Aviemore needs to be done “as soon as they can.”
However, he stressed routine maintenance of 108-mile stretch needs to remain at the forefront of government thinking.
He said: “The road needs to be dualled and while they are going about the dualling works, they need to continue on with maintenance.”
He said: “Routine maintenance needs to continue while they get on with dualling the A9; certainly, the Aviemore to Slocht section needs to be dualled as soon as they can.”
In 2018 a similar incident happened near Laurencekirk, where dozens of vehicles were damaged.
A Transport Scotland spokesman said: “We have contracts in place with operating companies to ensure Scottish trunk roads are safe, efficient and well managed.
“As part of their continuing inspection and management of the trunk road network, our Operating Companies have an obligation to inspect the network at seven-day intervals.
“These inspections are primarily to identify defects that require prompt attention because they present an immediate hazard to road users. The Scottish Government fully funds the repair of all road surface category one potholes.
“The Scottish Government remains firmly committed to completing the dualling of the A9 between Perth and Inverness, which is both a national and a local priority.
“We have already invested over £400million to date delivering the dualling programme.”
‘Fully funded’
He continued: “Work to determine the most suitable procurement options for the remaining sections of the A9 dualling is ongoing.
“This is a complex exercise which looks at a number of factors including how the project can be delivered most efficiently by the industry, whilst minimising disruption to road users and helping to support economic recovery post-Covid.”
Conversation