Roads weather risk survey planned

An aerial shot shows how the mud and rocks swept over the A85

Scotland's trunk road network is to be studied to assess the impact of severe weather, Transport Minister Nichol Stephen has announced.

He has also asked for a report on the landslides on the A85 in Perthshire and a similar incident earlier this month on the A9.

The A85 at Lochearnhead is expected to remain shut until at least the end of the weekend, police have said.

Mr Stephen visited the scene, where he praised the emergency services.

More than a dozen lorries and heavy diggers are continuing to clear mud and debris from the A85 in Glen Ogle where 57 motorists were trapped by two landslides on Wednesday.

We need to identify potential trouble spots and to receive expert advice Nichol Stephen Transport Minister

The road towards Killin is closed at Lochearnhead to the Lix Toll. The A84 between Strathyre and Lochearnhead is now open.

BEAR Scotland, the road contractors, plan to clear all the debris and erect concrete and steel barriers on either side of the carriageway to protect the road.

When it does re-open, it is likely to be down to single lane for some time.

Speaking at the site, Mr Stephen said: "This is the second time in just over a week that a landslip has caused the closure of one of Scotland's trunk roads.

"I will be commissioning a report to look in detail at both these recent landslip incidents.

Severe weather

"There will also be a second study which will look at the impact of what appears to be increasingly severe weather conditions on the whole Scottish trunk road network.

"We need to identify potential trouble spots and to receive expert advice.

"It seems likely that these landslips will remain a threat and nobody should underestimate how serious each of these incidents could have been."

Diggers continue to remove the rubble from the A85

The A9 landslide happened near Dunkeld in Perthshire on 11 August. The road was blocked and in once case, a family-of-five were forced to climb out of the windows of their car to escape the rising tide of mud.

Two minor landslides were reported elsewhere in Scotland as heavy rain continued late on Thursday.

Roads in Easter Ross and in the Black Isle were affected.

A spokeswoman for Highland Council said the road between Rosemarkie and Cromarty in the Black Isle was closed, but that the other two roads in Easter Ross were passable with care.

Four people also had to be rescued after their car became stuck following a "torrent" of water on a road near Brechin in Angus.

The car's occupants had left the car by the time the emergency services arrived and they were led to safety by fire crews.