A82 felling reaches toughest challenge yet

We're reaching the steepest part of the A82 next week. 

This is part of our steep ground felling programme on the hillside overlooking Loch Ness. The next phase of work, which will run from April until the end of June, will see large Douglas firs removed from a slope with a gradient of almost 90 per cent in places. Making it the most challenging phase of the project to date.

Our Planning Manager Ian Allsop said;

“harvesting is generally a hazardous business. Factor-in bad weather and it becomes trickier still.

 

But add to that some incredibly steep ground and you are faced with a job that needs to be done slowly, with exceptional attention to detail and by people who are absolutely at the top of their game.”

Safety precautions on site continues to be our top priority.

“This continues to hold true for the work our team will be doing over the next few months. However, the only thing that will affect road-users will be the ongoing traffic management, which is a key element of our safety measures,” adds Ian.

Traffic management will cover a 500m stretch of road between Drumnadrochit and Invermoriston and will involve stopping traffic in both directions for up to 10 minutes as the trees are felled.  

It will be in effect Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, starting 8 April 2024. 

This is the first-time our specialist contractor, Duffy Skylining, has been on site this year as we’ve had delays due to bad weather, safety inspections and work to stabilise the hillside ahead of felling on this complex spot. 

The 10 – 12 tonne conifers need to be felled as they’re becoming a risk for windblow that could cause significant damage to infrastructure if they were to be blown over in a storm.

The felling will make way for the establishment of native woodland which will be more sustainable for the future and will build more resilience into the hillside.