Lane 2 of the northbound A9 south of Dalnaspidal is closed 24 hours a day for up to four weeks while BEAR Scotland replaces and extends safety barriers. Work runs weekdays from 7am to 6pm, starting Monday 19 October.
Weekday work, continuous lane closure
Crews carry out barrier upgrade work Monday to Friday. Despite work pausing at weekends, the lane closure and associated reduced speed limit remain in place around the clock until the project completes. BEAR Scotland says this prevents traffic approaching exposed excavations and unfinished verge sections that could endanger road users.
Barrier upgrade details
The project is on behalf of Transport Scotland. It follows a safety review by BEAR Scotland’s road safety engineers, who identified sections of barrier reaching the end of their service life.
Replacing these sections and extending the barrier provides improved protection from roadside hazards. Safety barriers are designed to stop vehicles leaving the carriageway from striking fixed dangers beyond the verge.
Protecting workers and road users
The lane closure and lowered speed limit reduce risks for both the workforce and passing traffic. Kevin McKechnie, BEAR Scotland’s North West Strategic Road Safety Manager, said: “We thank road users for their patience and remind them to comply with temporary speed limits to help our teams work safely and return home each day.”
Information and impact
BEAR Scotland consulted relevant stakeholders ahead of the work to inform them of the traffic management arrangements. Live traffic updates are available at traffic.gov.scot and on X at @trafficscotland.
The exact length of the barrier being replaced and the proposed speed limit were not disclosed. Similar barrier renewals are routine on UK trunk roads, as seen in earlier projects such as the M5 near Exeter.
Northbound drivers will face one lane and reduced speed throughout the four-week period while passing the work zone.
