Dual plan will bring 'wildlife carnage' to A9
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THERE are claims that there could be "more carnage and carcases" for wildlife along the dualled A9 if proposals go-ahead as they stand for the Crubenmore to Kincraig stretch.
Last week RSPB Scotland hit out at the plans by Kingussie which they claimed will wreak havoc on one of Europe's most important natural floodplain for waders.
The charity claimed the project could represent a win-win for transport and wildlife but plans for upgrading the road by its Insh Marshes National Nature Reserve fell well short of what is required.
There are plans for a larger bridge crossing the Spey on the outskirts of the Badenoch capital and five football pitches worth of the reserve will be lost but the impact will be felt much wider by birds including curlew, oystercatchers and lapwings.
Gus and Tessa Jones, members of Badenoch and Strathspey Conservation Group, were among those in attendance at Transport Scotland's exhibition at Kingussie's Talla nan Ros last Thursday on its final proposed scheme to dual the stretch.
Dr Jones said: "We're very disappointed at the missed opportunity. Modern, sustainable green bridges could have been featured but instead we have the prospect of more carnage and carcases all along the upgraded trunk road."
He said there was insufficient provision for squirrels and pine marten and other protected species.
However, Transport Scotland's representatives pointed out that throughout the design stage the encroachment into notable habitats and designated sites had been "minimised were practicable".
Sam MacNaughton, the agency's stakeholder manager, said: "The provision of safe crossing points for mammals had been incorporated through provision of mammal ledges and appropriately sized culverts and bridges: river bed material had been provided in culverts to support fish passage, along with the provision of dry mammal tunnels."
He also said that habitats were to be restored after construction and tree planting would mitigate the loss of woodlands including ancient woods.
Mr MacNaughton said outline habitat management and species protection plans would be "further developed at the construction stage".
Transport Scotland has said with the mitigation measures proposed, there is predicted to be "no significant residual adverse impacts on the majority of habitats, once planting measures and re-vegetation re-establishes".
But the team recognised that new planting could not recreate an ancient woodland.
The new River Spey crossing will be substantially longer than the current bridge – 290 metres of a span compared with the current 138 metres – and embankments will be removed to reduce the impact of local wildlife.
A range of bridge types were considered including arched, concrete and steel composites and cable-stayed suspension.
A low-profile bridge was eventually identified as the way ahead in order to reduce the impact on the setting of Ruthven Barracks and to curb the number of bird strikes.
The two drop-in sessions in Newtonmore last Wednesday and next day at Kingussie attracted healthy turnouts and plenty of questions from members of the public for Transport Scotland staff and their consultants.
The compulsory purchase orders for the route were issued on September 4. The deadline for objections to unresolved issues is next Tuesday.
Any unresolved objections such as that by RSPB Scotland over the loss to Insh Marshes could prompt a Public Local Inquiry which would be led by a Scottish Government Reporters with ministers having the final decision.
Project leader Mokshda Bheemsingh, Transport Scotland, explained if there were no such hold ups then work could start on the new 14 miles stretch next year and be completed by 2023.
Mr MacNaughton said the reaction to the route at Newtonmore had been very positive.
He said: "The community council is delighted with the design for the new junction and told us that they just wanted us to get on with it, saying it would be a huge improvement on what the village already has."
Kingussie will also get a new upgraded junction.
Visitors were taken along the envisaged route courtesy of an on-screen "fly through visualisation".
Highway engineers Chris Southwell and Andrew Campbell, of CH2M Fairhurst – discussed the multitude of constraints the team had faced in putting together what they considered the best and most feasible route for the new stretch.
There is a new non-motorised users route to be provided between Kingussie and Kincraig – unlike the case between Aviemore and Carrbridge which has caused frustration. Elsewhere NMUs will be diverted and reinstated as required.
The proposed scheme removes all previous roadside bays and will see the creation of five new ones on each carriageway.
Three new left in/left out accesses will retain direct access into the A9 – at Glen Trium and Catlodge Road (C1137) which connects to Ralia café; the Ralia-Nudie Road (U3063) which retains its connection to the B9150 and the Newtonmore junction to the south; and the third one is at Balavil which links south to Chapelpark and Lynchat via an underpass.
