Scottish Politics / Independence - Vol 12
Discussion
alangla said:
You’ll be pleased to know that Highland Council have diverted cash intended for upgrading the Longman Interchange on the A9 to replacing the Corran Ferry https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy5l6gd79vlo
Looks like £58m involved overall. Wonder what a bridge would have cost?
£90m to £120m and 10 years for a Skye Bridge style crossing (the Caledonian Canal is upstream).Looks like £58m involved overall. Wonder what a bridge would have cost?
https://www.highland.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/...
hidetheelephants said:
A tunnel would be similar cost and not prone to being hit by drunks steering ships or closed by weather(the loch is a wind tunnel in gales).
A tunnel may have more risk of cost overrun as the ground conditions are uncertain. I have never heard the Ballachulish bridge nearby closed for wind.
Interesting factoid in the document linked that they seem to thing an estimated traffic increase if 130% in Ardour from a fixed link is a problem.
Surely increased traffic means the bridge or tunnel is a success compared to a ferry.
As a geologist (in a previous life) I wonder how tunnel builders would allow for building right through the middle of the Great Glen Fault.
I'm not convinced that it would actually improve the lives of those living over the water other than flooding them with tourists but can see arguments both ways.
That does also seem a lot of money for what is currently a pretty simple little ferry? Have they specified something unusual that's driving up the cost?
I'm not convinced that it would actually improve the lives of those living over the water other than flooding them with tourists but can see arguments both ways.
That does also seem a lot of money for what is currently a pretty simple little ferry? Have they specified something unusual that's driving up the cost?
Snow and Rocks said:
As a geologist (in a previous life) I wonder how tunnel builders would allow for building right through the middle of the Great Glen Fault.
I'm not convinced that it would actually improve the lives of those living over the water other than flooding them with tourists but can see arguments both ways.
That does also seem a lot of money for what is currently a pretty simple little ferry? Have they specified something unusual that's driving up the cost?
Article seems to suggest £28m for an electric, presumably battery powered, ferry, £20m from the UK government and £10m from the council for “shoreside improvements” which I guess will include an upgraded power supply to charge the boat up but also spending on the slipways and surrounding roads?I'm not convinced that it would actually improve the lives of those living over the water other than flooding them with tourists but can see arguments both ways.
That does also seem a lot of money for what is currently a pretty simple little ferry? Have they specified something unusual that's driving up the cost?
In terms of a bridge causing traffic problems in Ardgour, is it maybe that the council don’t want to spend the money upgrading more of the A861 to 2 lane single from single track?
Snow and Rocks said:
As a geologist (in a previous life) I wonder how tunnel builders would allow for building right through the middle of the Great Glen Fault.
Bendy drinking straw, but made out of concrete. 
I wonder if you could build something akin to the couplings between train carriages on newer "open plan" trains? Presumably you'd need to hollow out a cavern at the fault line, and occasionally go into it to clear accumulated debris.
But I'm not a civil engineer, so I don't know if that's feasible or just an expensive alternative to a ferry or bridge.
alangla said:
In terms of a bridge causing traffic problems in Ardgour, is it maybe that the council don’t want to spend the money upgrading more of the A861 to 2 lane single from single track?
Sadly. you are correct. Just as well our fathers and grandfathers didn't have this attitude or we would still be driving on singletrack roads north of Dumbarton.SNP award £100k to each local council for a Covid memorial - Falkirks effort.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14066003/...
Jesus f
king Christ, it looks like the yard at the side of the fabricators I use for work.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14066003/...
Jesus f
king Christ, it looks like the yard at the side of the fabricators I use for work. irc said:
alangla said:
In terms of a bridge causing traffic problems in Ardgour, is it maybe that the council don’t want to spend the money upgrading more of the A861 to 2 lane single from single track?
Sadly. you are correct. Just as well our fathers and grandfathers didn't have this attitude or we would still be driving on singletrack roads north of Dumbarton.Snow and Rocks said:
As a geologist (in a previous life) I wonder how tunnel builders would allow for building right through the middle of the Great Glen Fault.
I'm not convinced that it would actually improve the lives of those living over the water other than flooding them with tourists but can see arguments both ways.
That does also seem a lot of money for what is currently a pretty simple little ferry? Have they specified something unusual that's driving up the cost?
It's what the Noggies would have done 20 years ago; once Corran has a fixed link the roads get widened as far as Lochaline and a fixed link built to Mull.I'm not convinced that it would actually improve the lives of those living over the water other than flooding them with tourists but can see arguments both ways.
That does also seem a lot of money for what is currently a pretty simple little ferry? Have they specified something unusual that's driving up the cost?
The 1970s A9 upgrade showed what could be done. I am just old enough to remember when going from Glasgow to Aviemore involved going through every little village high street. What a major speed and safety improvement when the new A9 bypassed them al!l.
Meanwhile 50 years on the A96 still goes through town centres like Nairn etc. What a failure of all govts since devolution. Not that we have stood still.Aberdeen bypass. Stepps bypass. A80 bypassing Cumbernauld.
Actually the A80 past Cumbernauld was the start of the failure to build for current traffic volume never mind future volume.. There is 4 lanes of motorway meeting at the south end - M73 and M80. four leaving at the north end. So what genius though 2 lanes each direction was an upgrade.
I was told by an insider that going dual 2 rather than dual 3 only saved around 10% of the cost of the contract. Result? Rush hour queues as soon as it opened.
In comparison the Glasgow M8 was designed in 1963 for 1990 traffic levels and coped pretty well for the first few years despite only part of it being built.
Meanwhile 50 years on the A96 still goes through town centres like Nairn etc. What a failure of all govts since devolution. Not that we have stood still.Aberdeen bypass. Stepps bypass. A80 bypassing Cumbernauld.
Actually the A80 past Cumbernauld was the start of the failure to build for current traffic volume never mind future volume.. There is 4 lanes of motorway meeting at the south end - M73 and M80. four leaving at the north end. So what genius though 2 lanes each direction was an upgrade.
I was told by an insider that going dual 2 rather than dual 3 only saved around 10% of the cost of the contract. Result? Rush hour queues as soon as it opened.
In comparison the Glasgow M8 was designed in 1963 for 1990 traffic levels and coped pretty well for the first few years despite only part of it being built.
alangla said:
Article seems to suggest £28m for an electric, presumably battery powered, ferry, £20m from the UK government and £10m from the council for “shoreside improvements” which I guess will include an upgraded power supply to charge the boat up but also spending on the slipways and surrounding roads?
In terms of a bridge causing traffic problems in Ardgour, is it maybe that the council don’t want to spend the money upgrading more of the A861 to 2 lane single from single track?
The current slipways require specialist ferries with angled ramps rather than the standard straight-through roll-on, roll-off type. There's no overnight berth so the current ferries just overnight on swing moorings in the loch. And the waiting traffic backs up on to the main road. New slipways instead of reconstructing the existing slipways allows the existing service to continue through the construction.In terms of a bridge causing traffic problems in Ardgour, is it maybe that the council don’t want to spend the money upgrading more of the A861 to 2 lane single from single track?
https://www.affriclimited.co.uk/wp-content/uploads...
"New slipways instead of reconstructing the existing slipways allows the existing service to continue through the construction."
Good plan. Pity the same idea wasn't used for the planned Rest and Be Thankful upgrade which is being built on top of the existing road. Presumably years of using the Old Military Road lie ahead for regular users.
Anyone know the average wait when that is in operation. 20m? 30m?
Good plan. Pity the same idea wasn't used for the planned Rest and Be Thankful upgrade which is being built on top of the existing road. Presumably years of using the Old Military Road lie ahead for regular users.
Anyone know the average wait when that is in operation. 20m? 30m?
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