Friday August 28th 2020
BEAR Scotland engineers working at the site on the A68 near Fala
The progress of repairs to the damaged A68 near Fala is accelerating, with access gradually becoming easier as the collapsed embankment is built back up to road level. Each day up to 500 tonnes of rock are being added, increasing the height of the infill by several metres.
BEAR Scotland’s engineers are confident that repairs can be completed and the road reopened in early September, however this timescale remains weather dependent.
Meanwhile, Police Scotland are advising drivers to stick to the official signed diversion route.
Trunk Roads Police Inspector David Hynd said “All drivers passing through the area while the A68 remains closed should use the signed Standard Incident Diversion Route via the A7. This is the most suitable route for trunk road traffic and is operating well with no significant delays.
“It is particularly important that drivers of heavy goods vehicles follow the signed diversion, as there are sections on other local routes where it is difficult for two large vehicles to pass, creating potential safety issues and damage to the road network.”
The severe weather in the early hours of Wednesday 12 August 2020, on the A68 /B6367 from Pathhead to the B6458 at Fala Dam, resulted in damage to the carriageway as the 20-metre-deep embankment below it failed. As a result, a full closure of the A68 is in place, with a signed diversion route in operation.
BEAR Scotland says the signed diversion route via the A7 continues to operate well with no significant delays being experienced.
Northbound traffic is being diverted to the A6091 and at the junction with the A7 traffic travels via Galashiels, Stow and Fountainhall. From there, vehicles join the B6458 to re-join the A68 at Tynehead junction. The same diversion applies to traffic in the opposite direction.
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