Skip to main content

TRL provides expert opinion on A83 landslide

Following the recent landslide on the A83 in Scotland, the UK’s Transport Research Laboratory’s (TRL) Dr Mike Winter, head of Ground Engineering and Regional Director, was able to provide a rapid response when he was called upon for advice. TRL has worked closely with Transport Scotland over the last decade undertaking research and offering independent expert opinion on the risks associated with the potential for landslides across Scotland. TRL’s opinion was particularly sought on strategies for re-op
March 11, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
Following the recent landslide on the A83 in Scotland, the UK’s Transport Research Laboratory’s (491 TRL) Dr Mike Winter, head of Ground Engineering and Regional Director, was able to provide a rapid response when he was called upon for advice.

TRL has worked closely with 505 Transport Scotland over the last decade undertaking research and offering independent expert opinion on the risks associated with the potential for landslides across Scotland.

TRL’s opinion was particularly sought on strategies for re-opening the A83 taking into account the risks of further landslides and the progress of necessary remedial work, as well as the continued use of  the Old Military Road (OMR) diversion. Dr Winter was able to view the landslide from the air, along with Scottish Minister for Transport and Veterans, Keith Brown MSP, and assist with a full briefing on the situation including the likely phasing and timing of re-opening the road.

Continuing poor weather conditions since the slip have severely hampered work by the crew of geotechnical engineers and specialist subcontractors who need to access the hillside and assess the risks of loose material and make safe any boulders.

Dr Winter said:  “This is an excellent example of TRL working closely with Transport Scotland and their operating company (BEAR Scotland) to ensure that the road is reopened as soon as it is safe to do so, and to thus help minimise the economic impacts that such events have on the people of Argyll. The rare opportunity to view and event such as this from the air was a real bonus and will be very helpful in informing our future activities.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Visible road markings: an essential for older drivers and intelligent vehicles
    March 20, 2015
    The RAINVISION project, co-financed by the European Commission, recently held its final meeting. Over the past three years, the project has researched the impact of road markings on driver behaviour under different night weather conditions (dry, wet and wet and rainy) and has assessed how different age groups and gender groups adapt their driving based on the above mentioned conditions. The results of the project were presented and in particular, the outcomes of three different trials conducted over the pro
  • America fires V2V starting gun
    April 7, 2014
    Leo McCloskey, ITS America’s senior vice president for Technical Programs, talks to Jason Barnes about what the recent NHTSA ruling on light vehicle connectivity means for cooperative infrastructures in North America. In early February the US Department of Transportation’s (USDOT’s) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced it had decided to start taking steps to enable Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication technology for light vehicles. In so doing, the many safety-related applicati
  • Mileage based charging offers secure future for funding
    August 10, 2016
    HNTB’s Matthew Click sets out why a move to mileage-based pricing is inevitable. Infrastructure is the most neglected yet the most critical engine of our society, and our continued indifference could lead to a dystopian future. Our roads, bridges and highways have been largely passed by in the digital age—marginalised in an era when funding is limited and stewardship of physical assets has given way to our preoccupation with technological innovation and data—the stuff of the virtual realm.
  • Econolite announce new COO
    October 11, 2016
    Abbas Mohaddes is attending this ITS World Congress Melbourne in his new role as recently appointed president and COO of Econolite Group (EGI) with responsibility for the company’s global operations, including the continued development of strategic partnerships. He succeeds David St Amant, who will retire at the end of the year after a period of working closely together to help ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities, and will report directly to Econolite Group’s CEO Mike Doyle.