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

  • Colorado DoT locates data-rich environment
    January 14, 2020
    Colorado DoT and Esri have been cooperating to unlock data’s potential. Jason Barnes finds out what that has to do with firing a howitzer at snowy mountains – and exactly why things that happened in the past point the way towards future proofing
  • Development of cooperative driving applications for work zones
    July 17, 2012
    The German AKTIV project is researching several cooperative driving applications for use in work zones. PTV's Michael Ortgiese details progress. The steep increases in traffic volumes predicted back in the early 1990s have unfortunately been proven to be more than accurate. In Germany, the AKTIV project continues to look into cooperative technologies' potential to reduce the impact of those increased traffic volumes and keep traffic moving despite limitations in infrastructure capacity.
  • First trial of driverless vehicles, regulatory review launched
    February 11, 2015
    The first trial of driverless cars is launched today in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, London. The Greenwich Automated Transport Environment project (GATEway) is one of three projects chosen by the Government to deliver demonstrations of automated vehicles in urban environments. The trial officially gets underway at Greenwich Peninsula today, attended by Business Secretary Vince Cable and Transport Minister Claire Perry, who also officially launched a regulatory review and the UK Government’s ‘Intro
  • Integrate systems to reduce roadside infrastructure
    January 27, 2012
    David Crawford reviews promising current developments. Instrumentation of the road infrastructure has grown to become one of the most dynamic sectors of the ITS industry. Drivers for its deployment include global concerns over the commercial and environmental pressures of traffic congestion, the importance of keeping drivers informed throughout their journeys, and the need to reduce accident rates and promote the safety of all road users, for example by enforcing traffic safety rules.