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.