Tolls 'could pay for new roads'...

BertieUK

CLAPTON wrote: »

given the shocking state of the roads and the ensuring damagers to cyclists I'm also surprised the number of claims was so small.

Sure hard to believe that the roads are as bad as this considering the amout of VED collected.

Here the general public have been totally shortchanged by the authorities and their funds have gone to another project.

As you say the amount of claims are small seeing the state of their roas.

chris_m

BertieUK wrote: »

Sure hard to believe that the roads are as bad as this considering the amout of VED collected.
Here the general public have been totally shortchanged by the authorities and their funds have gone to another project.

VED hasn't been earmarked for spending on roads for years.
Anyway, the main examples in that BBC article had very little to do with road repairs.

I don't doubt that some areas probably do have sub-standard roads, however I do have to say that all the ones I've used getting to and around Skye, Lochalsh and the Western Isles have been superb, considerably better quality than I'd anticipated considering the harshness of the environment before I started going up there. The first time I visited (about five years ago) I reckoned that I'd had to dodge about as many potholes in a day as I do in half an hour in the Lake District.

BertieUK

chris_m wrote: »

VED hasn't been earmarked for spending on roads for years.
Anyway, the main examples in that BBC article had very little to do with road repairs.

I don't doubt that some areas probably do have sub-standard roads, however I do have to say that all the ones I've used getting to and around Skye, Lochalsh and the Western Isles have been superb, considerably better quality than I'd anticipated considering the harshness of the environment before I started going up there. The first time I visited (about five years ago) I reckoned that I'd had to dodge about as many potholes in a day as I do in half an hour in the Lake District.

I think to be honest the roads that you mention around Skye really have to be maintained to a high standard as the community relies upon them for their survival.

I used to drive coaches for a living and we had to drive with precision because of the narrowness of the highways you mention, so they had to be maintained to a very high standard, whereas around the larger towns and cities it was probably less inportant in the eyes of the councils.

chris_m

BertieUK wrote: »

I think to be honest the roads that you mention around Skye really have to be maintained to a high standard as the community relies upon them for their survival.

Doesn't seem to apply in other areas though - for example the Lake District, community survival still applies, yet many of the roads are dire.

whereas around the larger towns and cities it was probably less inportant in the eyes of the councils.

Also, I suspect, rural areas tend not to get the road dug up by every utility company in turn. Round my way, most of the bad roads are where "someone" has dug a trench and not backfilled properly before resurfacing, so the "repair" sinks, or not sealed the repair to the original surface properly so water gets in and the join breaks up. The worst offenders seem to have been the cable TV companies who used the cheapest contractors they could find - and , boy, does it show now :mad:

BertieUK

chris_m wrote: »

Doesn't seem to apply in other areas though - for example the Lake District, community survival still applies, yet many of the roads are dire.



Also, I suspect, rural areas tend not to get the road dug up by every utility company in turn. Round my way, most of the bad roads are where "someone" has dug a trench and not backfilled properly before resurfacing, so the "repair" sinks, or not sealed the repair to the original surface properly so water gets in and the join breaks up. The worst offenders seem to have been the cable TV companies who used the cheapest contractors they could find - and , boy, does it show now :mad:

The Lake District roads that I have experienced have been as you say dire to travel upon, but in the Highlands you do not always have a choice of selection of roads to choose from as you may in other areas otherwise, I know when there is a problem on the A82 diversions can add miles to journeys.

I was merely putting this link by the BBC as an example of the way that money is wasted in compensation, instead of getting the problem sorted in the first place, a little distraction I know.

grizzly1911

BertieUK wrote: »

The Lake District roads that I have experienced have been as you say dire to travel upon, but in the Highlands you do not always have a choice of selection of roads to choose from as you may in other areas otherwise, I know when there is a problem on the A82 diversions can add miles to journeys.

I was merely putting this link by the BBC as an example of the way that money is wasted in compensation, instead of getting the problem sorted in the first place, a little distraction I know.

When I was up in the Hebrides earlier this year there were some magnificent dual track stretches in the middle of single track (passing places) road. I think the EU probably has something to with it. Grand Prix standard.

Where we live, a relatively affluent area, the roads are atrocious

BertieUK

grizzly1911 wrote: »

When I was up in the Hebrides earlier this year there were some magnificent dual track stretches in the middle of single track (passing places) road. I think the EU probably has something to with it. Grand Prix standard.

Where we live, a relatively affluent area, the roads are atrocious

I agree with your findings, over these past two decades the Highland roads and beyond have been made very impressive to drive on a vast difference from the way they used to be. As you say they had a Diamond shape sign which signified as a 'Passing Place' whereby two vehicles could pass each other safely.

I believe that the EU may have help to fund these projects as indeed the did in Eire, whereby twenty years ago, or therabouts, the EU contributed between 60-70% of cost in Eire. The Republic that is.

chris_m

BertieUK wrote: »

I believe that the EU may have help to fund these projects as indeed the did in Eire, whereby twenty years ago, or therabouts, the EU contributed between 60-70% of cost in Eire. The Republic that is.

Certainly, some of the improvements on Skye have been EU funded or, at least with EU grants towards the cost, I remember seeing the signs about it. The main road down from Broadford to Armadale, for one, is excellent. I never drove the old road, but, from what bits I've seen winding their way down beside the new one, it must have been awful. A long stretch up from Portree towards Staffin has also been EU funded or assisted and is a significant improvement. Several of the minor roads have been improved , or well resurfaced, over the last few years too.

You mention diversions, I see that the A890 Lochalsh - Lochcarron road is closed - again - due to another rockfall yesterday. To be fair, though, that's not down to poor road maintenance, more down to poor routing - undoubtedly it seemed OK when it was originally built but the rock faces have since deteriorated. If they can't stabilise it again, I can see Stromeferry (no ferry) becoming Stromeferry (with ferry) again. If it is, and they use the same one as last year it should be good for the community of Glenelg since they own and operate the ferry in the summer only. Another winter contract would help with the funding.

BertieUK

chris_m wrote: »

Certainly, some of the improvements on Skye have been EU funded or, at least with EU grants towards the cost, I remember seeing the signs about it. The main road down from Broadford to Armadale, for one, is excellent. I never drove the old road, but, from what bits I've seen winding their way down beside the new one, it must have been awful. A long stretch up from Portree towards Staffin has also been EU funded or assisted and is a significant improvement. Several of the minor roads have been improved , or well resurfaced, over the last few years too.

You mention diversions, I see that the A890 Lochalsh - Lochcarron road is closed - again - due to another rockfall yesterday. To be fair, though, that's not down to poor road maintenance, more down to poor routing - undoubtedly it seemed OK when it was originally built but the rock faces have since deteriorated. If they can't stabilise it again, I can see Stromeferry (no ferry) becoming Stromeferry (with ferry) again. If it is, and they use the same one as last year it should be good for the community of Glenelg since they own and operate the ferry in the summer only. Another winter contract would help with the funding.

I can remember the A855 Portree to Staffin going past The Storr, whereby the roadway was railway sleepers in small sections of the road,placed upon very soft peat beds, suprisingly they worked.

It might be inevitable to bring back the Ferry at Stromeferry with so much frequent rockfall happening on that section of the A890, although with the railway line running close to this problem the Authorities have to be able to get access to secure this section. Never rains but it pours.

chris_m

BertieUK wrote: »

I can remember the A855 Portree to Staffin going past The Storr, whereby the roadway was railway sleepers in small sections of the road,placed upon very soft peat beds, suprisingly they worked.

Funny you should mention that - the contractors who did the upgrade (or, should I say, the FIRST contractors) didn't appear to know about putting roads over peat - with the result that after a short period of use, part of the nice new road sank and they had to get someone else in to do it properly ;-)

It might be inevitable to bring back the Ferry at Stromeferry with so much frequent rockfall happening on that section of the A890, although with the railway line running close to this problem the Authorities have to be able to get access to secure this section. Never rains but it pours.

That, I believe, is one of the options currently being considered. The others are a bridge at or near Strome Narrows, an alternative new road around the back of the troublesome cliffs, moving the road and/or railway out into an infill along the loch shore or, surprisingly - doing nothing and repairing as and when necessary. I believe extended avalanche shelters were discounted before it even went out for consultation.
I wonder if this latest fall will help to knock the last option off the agenda - it was the cheapest option based solely on "up-front" costs, potentially the most expensive over, IIRC, something like 50 years, although I can't recall whether that included the economic cost of disruption to the region or just the capital cost of doing the work.