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

  • Awards for Scottish roundabout safety scheme
    April 6, 2017
    The Sheriffhall Roundabout: Mitigating Lane Transgression with the Intelligent Road Stud scheme was recently presented with two awards by ITS (UK). The Forward Thinking Award and UK Scheme of the Year Award follow earlier recognition by four other major industry awards during past year. Sheriffhall is a new approach to reducing lane transgression on a multi-lane spiral roundabout. Connecting several key roads around Edinburgh and handling upwards of 42,000 vehicles a day, the A720 Sheriffhall Roundabout
  • Flexibility, interoperability is key to future traffic management
    February 3, 2012
    Jon Taylor of Faber Maunsell and Tabatha Bailey of Transport for London describe how an unusual mix of traffic practitioners, researchers and industry are working together to build new tools for the future. As we face higher expectations for managing congestion from both citizens and politicians, and as more and more data is becoming available from new sources, our traffic management challenge is changing.
  • Kent County Council and Highways England partner on road management
    June 3, 2015
    Drivers in Kent are set to benefit from better journeys thanks to a new agreement between Kent County Council and Highways England. The new partnership agreement will improve planning and communication between the two organisations and improve journeys for the many thousands of drivers who use Kent’s road network every day. The two organisations will share information about incidents better to improve the information on the county’s message signs. Roadworks will be co-ordinated to ensure that the dive
  • No in-road equipment for Queensland's free flow toll bridge
    February 1, 2012
    By May this year, the new Gateway Bridge in Brisbane, which is being built alongside an existing bridge, will be open. With it will come an end-to-end free-flow tolling system. Interview with Sue Caelers, Queensland Motorway Ltd. Queensland Motorways Ltd owns and operates 61km of roadway in the area around Brisbane, Australia. This includes the Gateway Bridge and the Gateway Extension, Logan and Port of Brisbane motorways.