Major Drumochter resurfacing works reach halfway point

Roadworks at Drumochter have reached the halfway mark, road workers have confirmed.

The £520,000 resurfacing on the A9 is “progressing well” according to Bear Scotland, with teams reaching the halfway mark this week.

So far more than 640m of the northbound dual carriageway has been upgraded, with work to address a 400m stretch on the southbound carriageway of the A9 beginning this week.

Once completed the programme will see more than 3,400 tonnes of new surfacing materials installed, improving the overall quality and safety of this section of the A9 for drivers.

The southbound project incorporates a sustainable approach to road maintenance, where a process known as “crack and seat” is being applied to the cement-bound base layer beneath the top level of road surface.

This engineering process helps extend the life of the existing lower layer of the road by inducing a series of hairline cracks using heavy machinery, which help to evenly distribute the strain and pressure of traffic running over the top.

Bear Scotland says that this is a more sustainable solution, as around 1,150 tonnes of material will be saved, without compromising on quality.

The improvements are taking place between 7am and 7pm, Monday to Thursday and 7am to 12.30pm on Fridays.

No works are programmed for Saturday or Sundays.

The project is expected to be completed by the end of this month.

A 10mph convoy system is in place for the duration of the project.