Landslides

Scotland's stunning scenery sometimes has its drawbacks in inclement weather. The country's high mountains and steep valleys are prone to landslides under sustained, heavy rainfall. Landslides can have adverse affects on Scotland's trunk roads, so Transport Scotland have implemented safety and efficiency measures to mitigate their impact.

What is a landslide?

A landslide is defined as a movement of a mass of rock, earth or debris down a slope. Landslides can be divided into the following types of movement: falls, topples, slides and flows. The type of material involved in the movement can include rock, debris or earth.

Most events with a significant impact on Scottish trunk roads in recent years have been relatively fast-moving, shallow debris flows.

The weather has a significant influence on landslides, so we pay close attention to local weather warnings. Extended, heavy rainfall at places such as Rest and Be Thankful is likely to cause debris flow onto the trunk roads.

Further general information on landslides can be found on the websites of the British Geological Survey and Scottish Natural Heritage.

Mitigating the impact of landslides

Transport Scotland seeks to reduce the impact of landslides on trunk roads in several ways, including:

• monitoring landslide-prone slopes
• liaising with weather forecasters
• landslide patrols
• providing travel warnings, information and advice
• landslide risk reduction measures

We cannot prevent landslides from occurring, but we can manage the consquences effectively to reduce their impact on the trunk road network.

We published the Scottish Road Network Landslides Study in 2005, following severe road closures after landslides in the previous year. In 2009 we published an Implementation Report and we continue to study landslides in the country.

The study provides a picture of the potential future risk of landslides in Scotland that may impact on the trunk road network and evidence to help us plan and manage the risk.

Safe travel

Safety for all road users is one of our main priorities. If you are driving in areas known to be affected by landslides, you can follow these basic tips for staying safe:

• plan your journey in advance using the Traffic Scotland website
• check the weather forecast before you set off
• allow extra travel time
• be alert for water or debris on the road
• listen for travel bulletins and looking for roadside messages displayed on variable message signs
• avoid stopping on bridges or next to water courses in mountainous areas
• plan your stops in towns and villages rather than the open roadside

A82 Glen Righ

On 26 October 2014, after exceptionally heavy rain, a section of the A82 near Corrychurrachan Bridge was blocked by excessive water flows and debris from the adjacent hillside. White water carved three separate channels down the hillside and carried debris with it.

BEAR Scotland and the Forestry Commission cleared the road of debris by early afternoon on 27 October, preventing scouring of the wingwall of Corrychurrachan Bridge. The team also cleared the blocked culverts to allow continued drainage. The temporary traffic signals were removed the following week when a reduced water level allowed an inspection to prove that the bridge was still in tact.

Forestry Commission infrastructure, such as small bridges and driving tracks, were damaged significantly during the event.

Following the landslide event a debrief exercise was carried. The aim of a debrief exercise is to enable the responder organisations to reflect on the response and implement learning into future practices and processes. The debrief report can be viewed online.

A7 Terrona

Minor landslides on the A7 trunk road at Terrona caused disruption on the road in late 2006. In 2013, work began on rock armour revetments to mitigate the effects of landslides.

The landslides in 2006 occurred 9m from the eastern edge of the A7, making it a low-risk area with little expected impact on the road. Transport Scotland and BEAR continued to monitor the area nonetheless and identified that the area was still compromised. The mitigation measures of rock revetments were therefore built to reduce further erosion. It was completed in September 2013.

A702 Lamington

The A702at Lamington experience an embankment failure and eroison on the highway verge. Transport Scotland's operating company, BEAR Scotland, undertook emergency works to ensure that the road remained open.

About 75m of the road was damaged by surface water runoff from adjacent fields, exacerbated by vehicle overrun. The carriageway profile allowed surface water to run across the road, contributing to the destabilisation of the verge and embankment.

BEAR Scotland redesigned the road here. They used a steel track system to minimise damage to the neighbouring field and used rock armour to strengthen the embankment. This allowed for better drainage during heavy rainfall.

The completed embankment was covered in topsoil and seeded with grass. This returned it to its existing environment and provided defence against future erosion.

A82 Glen Gloy

The A82 at Glenfintaig,  near Glen Gloy, experienced a landslide when a fallen tree detached some of the road verge and exposed the edge of the carriageway. The road is open and temporary signals will operate until repairs are complete.

Glenfintaig sits on the A82 between Fort William and Fort Augustus.

The landslide occurred during a storm when a tree fell and detached part of the road, leaving the verge side safety barrier suspended in mid-air.

The slide area is 13 metres wide, by 5 metres long and drops to a 1.8 metre sheer face below the carriageway edge.

After initial works to protect the slope, the road was reduced to single lane traffic, controlled by temporary signals.

As traffic flows are low, journey delays are minimal and these signals will only remain in place until a permanent scheme has been built.

During construction the road may be closed for short periods.

Initial works to stabilise the slope and safeguard road users included:

• Cut drainage grips and sand-bags placed to divert surface water run off away from the failure scar and protect the slope from further water ingress
• A new steel barrier to provide protection and prevent vehicles from going over the edge. This will keep vehicles away from the edge of the failure and minimise the load directly above the failure scar
• Controlled removal of an unstable tree adjacent to the failure that was leaning and causing stress to slope. The rootball has been left in-situ to provide support to the soil
• A protective waterproof membrane to protect sheer face of upper 2 metres
• Abnormally heavy loads have been re-directed to prevent excessive loadings above the failure

We continue to look for signs of movement, subsidence or cracking in the road surface, increases in the size of the failure zone, tension cracks and washout from the face of the slide area.

Design of the preferred option, a 300 metres offline realignment, remote from the edge of the gorge, is currently being progressed.

A835 Tarvie

On 6 October 2012, 3 landslips occurred on the embankment of the A835 at Tarvie, resulting in the road edge collapsing. The repair of the embankment was completed in July 2013.

Transport Scotland’s  Operating Company  assessed the situation and was instructed to carry out a drainage survey at the location. 

The drainage investigation was carried out in November 2012 and this highlighted areas for improvement.

In addition a geotechnical engineer was commissioned to assess the slope failure and a report was submitted to Transport Scotland.

Drainage improvement works, including the installation of new filter drains, catchpits and gullies, and deepening of existing ditches were undertaken in mitigation as it was concluded that the inadequacy of the former drainage in the vicinity of the slip was a major contributory factor.

Embankment repair works included the provision of a below ground level drainage layer and installation of a culvert extension and headwall.

Road carriageway edge strengthening was also carried out.
 
Repair works were completed on 24 July 2013

A82 Loch Lochy

The retaining wall of the A82 at Loch Lochy was fully repaired in January 2013 after a collapsed occurred as a result of high winds and heavy rain.

Safety of the A82 at Loch Lochy, 1km north of the Letterfinlay Lodge Hotel, was compromised by a collapsed retaining wall.

Following bad weather, loch waves undermined foundations and dislodged the wall, in turn destroying the verge and exposing the carriageway.

The failure area was 20 metres long and 5 metres wide with a steep shelf below the foundation area.

As a safety measure, one lane of the A82 was temporarily closed and traffic lights directed drivers around the lane until repairs were complete.

Initial works were undertaken to stabilise the slope and safeguard road users.

Crushed rock (approximately 1x3 metres in size) was placed on the exposed embankment to protect against further damage to the verge of the A82.

After BT re-routed a fibre optic cable that ran through the area, the final repairs to the retaining wall were completed.

A83 Rest and Be Thankful

Transport Scotland are currently undertaking extensive work on the stretch of road by Rest and Be Thankful. You can read about the work on the A83 project page.

Transport Scotland highlight the risks of landslide-prone areas using this sign.

Although the Department for Transport Traffic Signs Manual indicates that this sign indicates the risk of falling rocks, it is used for all kinds of landslides, including debris flow.

At Rest and Be Thankful on the A83 we have instigated the first ever use of 'Wig Wag' road signs for landslides. These warn road users when there is a higher risk of landslides than is normal. The sign will flash a warning when the risk is higher.

Like all warning signs this does not mean that the road is closed but acts as a warning to road users who must exercise caution when using the road.

If the wig wag signs are flashing, motorists should avoid stopping, particularly on bridges or next to watercourses but instead to proceed with increased caution.

Procedures for activating Wig Wag signs

The risk of landslide occurrence along the A83 Rest and Be Thankful has been identified under the Scottish Road Network Landslide Study: Implementation.

As part of the management actions to mitigate the risk of landslides, trialling of Wig-Wags on an identified section of the A83 trunk road has been recommended to provide a warning to road users of the increased risk of landslide occurrence at times of heavy or persistent rainfall.

This procedure identifies the specific monitoring and operational requirements that need to be put in place as a result of a Heavy Rainfall Warning being issued for heavy or persistent rainfall along this particular section of route.

Action Plan and Programme

Our action plan has been developed taking into account the risk level determined by regular monitoring undertaken by our operating company. We have used this information, balanced with competing priorities across the trunk road network, to determine a delivery programme.

This programme features information on schemes with a risk level above ‘medium’, including up to date progress. Further information can be accessed for each scheme at the South West Monitoring Sites page.

Our programme may vary throughout the year due to unforeseen circumstances for example weather, emergency events and budget priorities, but we will update the programme to reflect any changes as they occur. It is difficult to predict what our budget priorities may be beyond this financial year, therefore the programme is indicative and subject to change.

Transport Scotland has monitoring requirements for particular areas of the network with earthworks present. In the South West unit, we have a total of 16 sites comprising: 9 sites that require 6-monthly monitoring, 1 site requiring 12-monthly monitoring, the remaining 3 are monitored in the event of rock fall occurring.

Further information on each of these sites can be found below:

A76 Blackwood (GA5)

The site is located along the A76 Dumfries – Kilmarnock Trunk Road at approximate National Grid Reference E290321, N588210. The A76 is a single carriageway, trending at this location broadly northwest - southeast. The trunk road in this area is constructed within a cut section bordering the carriageway to the east and supported on an embankment to the west.

It sits on an embankment approximately 5m above the River Nith which runs along the southwest of the road. The embankment rises at gradient of 1(v):1.5(h) from the toe of the embankment slope which is immediately adjacent to the river. At the crest of the embankment a verge of approximately 0.5m width separates the pavement from a safety barrier. To this east is a cut extending into the adjacent hills to the east. This site is subject to a slope stability monitoring regime at intervals not exceeding six months.

The embankment supporting the carriageway is displaying signs of distress with small areas of slip and terraces forming along a length of the embankment. The verge has settled locally with the adjacent barrier showing signs of distortion over approximately 50m length, brought about by ground movement. Remedial patching of the carriageway is evident at this location. Cracks in the northbound lane, outwith the patching, running parallel to the verge are likely to be associated with the instability of the embankment. The face of the embankment is covered by dense vegetation, shrubbery and mixed woodland. The presence of inclined tree trunks suggests that a creep or minor historic landslide has occurred. Drainage can be seen in the verge as grips perpendicular to the carriageway.

A76 Enterkinfoot (GA3)

The study area is located adjacent to the northbound lane of the A76, within the council boundary of Dumfries & Galloway. It is bound by the A76 to the west and River Nith to the east. In terms of topography, the study area can be described as a steep sloping area falling from east to west. To the east of the study area the land is gently sloping up away from the carriageway. This site is subject to a slope stability monitoring regime at intervals not exceeding six months.

The embankment supporting the A76 shows signs of recent slips and terracing causing displacement of the verge and safety barrier. At the toe of the embankment the River Nith has eroded the embankment, over-steepening it in places. The embankment shows signs of distress over a length of approximately 200m with small areas of slip and terrace forming along the length of the embankment.

A topographic survey has been carried out at Enterkinfoot, and a ground investigation was completed in 2017. A road realignment was constructed and was completed in December 2019.

A77 Cairnryan (GA14)

The site of A77 Cairnryan is located adjacent to the A77 carriageway, at approximate National Grid Reference E205492, N571756, 3 miles north of Cairnryan. The A77 is a single carriageway at this location, trending northwest-southeast and is constructed on side-long ground rising to Mid Moile to the east and falling to Loch Ryan to the west.

Two landslides occurred at this site in late 2014. The northern landslide, adjacent to the southbound lane, occurred first, causing soil debris to spill onto the carriageway. The southern landslide then occurred immediately south of the northern one, to an area supporting the carriageway on the northbound side. Temporary remedial works have since been completed in the area adjacent to the southbound lane.

We have removed vegetation from the area of assessment and our geotechnical engineers have assessed the slope to allow a design for the ground investigation to be developed. The Ground investigation was completed in 2017, and repair construction work was completed in March 2018, allowing the removal of the temporary traffic lights.

A77 Carlock Hill (GA7)

The site is located along the M77/A77 Glasgow – Stranraer Trunk Road, at approximate National Grid Reference E209007, N576460. At this location the A77 is a single carriageway, trending broadly northeast - southwest. The carriageway at Carlock Hill is constructed on sidelong ground with hill side slopes adjacent to the northbound lane and a steep embankment supporting the southbound lane sloping down towards the Water of App. A single row of gabion baskets support the edge of the southbound lane. This site is subject to a slope stability monitoring regime at intervals not exceeding six months.

A landslide occurred on the hillside adjacent to the northbound verge in November 2014. Heavy rainfall over the following weeks induced further slides resulting in large volumes of debris being deposited onto the carriageway in December 2014. Interim remedial works were completed in May 2015 stabilising the area of failure using rock fill however further works including placing of rock fill, removing of loose debris and further assessment of drainage was undertaken on August 2015 to provide a robust medium-term solution.

Further works were required to provide an erosion control system on the exposed open rock faces that remained and this was completed by November 2015. Road patching was carried out in October 2015 to repair the areas that have been temporarily patched during the landslip site works. A Geotechnical Investigation is programmed at this site for 2019/20, with a permanent design to be developed and constructed in 2020/21.

A77 Carlock Wall (GA8)

The site is located adjacent to the A77 trunk road network, at approximate National Grid Reference E209286, N577030. The A77 is a single carriageway, trending broadly north to south, constructed on sidelong ground falling steeply to Altikelly Burn located at the toe of the Altikelly Glen to the east and rising to the west to Carlock Hill.

The A77 Carlock Wall monitoring site consists of an embankment section adjacent to SB carriageway, which is considered overly steep at approx 1(v):1(h) descending 5 to 20m to the valley floor where Altikelly Burn is located. A series of retaining structures are present consisting gabions, concrete bagwork and dry stone masonry retaining structures which support the SB carriageway and verge. Emergency remedial works were mobilised February 2015 and entailed packing out voids within the retaining structures with sand cement matrix fill sand bags and also undertaking works to stabilise the retaining structures by means of a new gabion basket. Defective pipe drainage outlets were also targeted along with localised areas of defective gabions, mainly where corrosion has caused loss of section and fill.

This site is subject to a slope stability monitoring regime at intervals not exceeding six months. In addition, monitoring pins in the carriageway are surveyed every month to check for movement.

A ground investigation has been completed for this site and options have been assessed. The recommended preferred option is a soil-nailed slope with a reinforced earth structure at the crest. Further GI works to finalise the design were undertaken in March 2018.

A77 Carlock Wall Rock Face (GA15)

The site is located adjacent to the A77 trunk road network, at approximate National Grid Reference E209286, N577030. The A77 is a single carriageway, trending broadly north to south, constructed on sidelong ground falling steeply to Altikelly Burn located at the toe of the Altikelly Glen to the east and rising to the west to Carlock Hill. The rock slope face can be summarised as approximately 100m long, with height varying from 10 to 15m. adjacent to the northbound carriageway verge. It is covered in draped rock fall netting throughout the site extents, pinned at the crest of the rock slope face. This site is subject to a slope stability monitoring regime at intervals not exceeding six months.

The rock slope face is showing signs of deterioration. Rock fall debris has accumulated behind the rock netting at the rock face toe. Vegetation comprising mainly shrubs are prominent on the rock slope face. North of the site unfavourable bedding cleavage and fracture cleavage can be seen in exposed rock face adjacent to the turn off leading to Carlock House.

A77 Drumbo Kennels and Mark Church (GA10)

The site of Drumbo Kennel is a section of embankment supporting the A77 trunk road north of Cairnryan at approximate National Grid References E206336, N573566. The A77 at this location is a single carriageway with an embankment supporting the northbound carriageway and adjacent to the southbound carriageway there is a cut section stabilised by soil nails. No significant defects have been recorded in the cut section stabilised by soil nails therefore this has not been assessed as part of the geotechnical monitoring as this has not been recognised as defective nor pose any risk to the public. West of the site the Water of App meanders, in line with the carriageway, and outfalls southwest into Loch Ryan.

The embankment, set back from the verge of the northbound carriageway, can be described as steeper towards its crest, with the toe leading to a broadly flat ground where the banks of Water of App are present, approximately 50m away. Geotechnical monitoring recorded areas of overly steep sections, areas of terracing, saturation and exposed soils at surface caused by erosion, all within the upper limits of this embankment typically surrounding a section that is 3-4m high, considered particularly overly steep. Towards the northern extents of the study area there are sections of 1 to 1.5m high near vertical exposed faces comprising clay with suspended cobbles . The northbound carriageway verge is recorded as settled up to 400mm, thought caused by soil erosion. Water ponding at the toe the embankment was also recorded.

A77 Glengall (GA9)

The site of Glengall is located in a cut adjacent to the M77/A77 Glasgow – Stranraer Trunk Road, immediately southeast of Ayr at approximate National Grid References E235174, N618896. At this location, the A77 is a single carriageway. The cut can be broadly described as 7.5m to 15m high. Only the east side of the cut, adjacent to the southbound lane, has been recognised as at risk. At the crest of the cut east of the A77, arable farmland extends east on broadly flat ground. Extending from the crest of the cut west of the A77 is grassland bordered by a residential estate. The cut adjacent to the northbound lane shows no sign of instability. This site is subject to a slope stability monitoring regime at intervals not exceeding six months.

The cut adjacent to the southbound lane shows signs of instability including tension cracks, terracing at the crest of the cut and bulging at the toe. A boundary fence bordered by arable farmland is located at the top of the cut. The ground of this field, bordering the cut, was noted as partially saturated on all occasions during the geotechnical monitoring particularly towards the southern end of the site. An open drainage ditch runs along the top of the slope and a herringbone drainage system is present throughout the cut. A single tier of gabion baskets extend along the toe of the cut, adjacent to the southbound lane. The majority of these have tilted to some degree, but some have settled extensively in one localised area.

A77 Bennane (GA6)

The site of Bennane is a section of natural hillside adjacent to the M77/A77 Glasgow – Stranraer Trunk Road, 6km north of Ballantrae at approximate National Grid References E211067, N588374. The A77 trunk road at this location is a single carriageway on a large-radius bend, with a climbing lane in the southbound direction. The northbound lane of the carriageway is supported by an embankment covered in various vegetation and mature trees and extends downslope to a levelled area in use by the caravan holiday park. The southbound lanes are adjacent to a steep hillside slope of approximately 30m in height. The slope plateaus at the crest and consists of rough grazing land. The verge adjacent to the southbound lanes is approximately 3m wide and bordered by a slip protection barrier. A safety barrier in the verge is also present throughout this section. This site is subject to a slope stability monitoring regime at intervals not exceeding six months.

The Bennane site is located adjacent to the southbound lanes and shows several signs of instability. Surface erosion and terracing is extensive in the upper areas of the slope. Approximately halfway up the slope a natural levelled terrace has formed, approximately 3 to 5m wide. A landslide occurred in late 2014, causing a significant body of soil debris to accumulate behind the slip protection barrier. The stability of the lower and upper slopes were monitored to determine whether any further signs of instability were present. A large number of cobbles and boulders are exposed in the slope face with further signs of erosion and washout. The crest of the lower slope is near-vertical in areas with exposed soil and terracing throughout. The slope adjacent to the verge is set back 5 to 6m from carriageway.

M80 Earnock Cut (GA1)

The site is located adjacent to the northbound carriageway of the M80 Glasgow – Stirling Trunk Road, at approximate National Grid Reference E262701, N667429. The M80 is a motorway, trending at this location broadly northeast - southwest. The site location is at a point where the M80 sits in a cut slope, running between a railway line and a residential development. The monitored slope is located adjacent to the northbound motorway lanes. The slope rises approximately 10m above the adjacent motorway lanes. This site is subject to a slope stability monitoring regime at intervals not exceeding six months.

Deterioration and instability of this slope is shown over a length of approximately 250m. The slope shows signs of distress with tension cracks developing and terrace forming in the top half of the slope. Bulging is evident throughout the slope mainly along the toe. Erosion channels can be seen throughout the slope suggesting historic drainage issues, confirmed by presence of herringbone drains along the length of the cut. Monitoring equipment is installed in two areas of the cut. The cut slope is covered partially by trees and vegetation which continues along the northern boundary of the site. It can be assumed that the existing vegetation contributes to the stability of the slope. Remote monitoring trials of this slope are underway.

Our operating company, Scotland Transerv, conducts monitoring of these areas on our behalf in accordance with the methodology outlined in the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges. Sites recognised as having low or negligible risk have not been considered further but will continue to be monitored in accordance with the requirements outlined above. These sites comprise:

• A725 Whirlies Roundabout (GA13)
• A77 Holmston (GA11)
• A77 Kennedy’s Pass (GA12)
• A78 Chriswell (GA4)
• M8 Bishopton (GA2)