Hazardous tree felling operations causing delays for motorists on the A82 Fort William to Inverness road in Lochaber are going to last three months longer than expected.
Forest Enterprise Scotland (FES) yesterday (Thursday) said it had been forced to extend its clearing operations on the steep hillside alongside the busy trunk road at Loch Lochy following delays due to bad weather and worse than expected site conditions.
And last month a forestry worker was airlifted to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness after being hit by a falling tree on the site.
The man, who is in his early 20s, suffered suspected spinal injuries described by police as “serious, but not life-threatening”.
The clearing operations were due to have been completed this month, but will now run on until late June.
Alex Macleod, who is managing the A82 project for FES, said: “Clearing the windblow from Loch Lochy has generally gone well, but the weather has lost us a few days and we’re now encountering some tricky conditions on the last section of the site to be felled.
“In this section there are significant areas where trees have been blown down in previous year’s storms – worse areas than we’ve seen so far – and it is very unstable.
“We need to take it very slowly.”
He added that they were also coming across a number of root-plates – exposed tree roots that are still packed with soil – that weigh several tonnes each and have become completed detached from the slope.
Mr Macleod said: “These will need to be secured in situ before we then reduce them in size and weight so that they can be fully removed from the site.
“This can be very time-consuming – often taking half a day to remove one root plate.
“We anticipate being able to finish the works by the last week in June.”
He said they appreciated the patience and understanding of local communities and road users and would work with Transport Scotland to minimise local disruption as far as possible.
Traffic management measures for the Loch Lochy works will be removed on all public holidays and during any major events.
Meanwhile, catch fence installation above the A82 at Primrose Bay near Alt Sigh, about three miles north of Invermoriston, is progressing well and is expected to be completed by the beginning of next month.