Tree clearing beside Far North Line continues with overnight temporary traffic lights
Work to clear trees and other vegetation alongside an eight-mile stretch of the Far North Line will continue next month.
Network Rail says traffic management will be in place overnight for five nights in early September on the B817 in Alness and Evanton.
The work began in June and involves clearing the vegetation beside the railway to reduce the potential impact on trains as well as reducing risk to land adjacent to the railway.
A two-way traffic light system will be in place overnight between 9pm and 7am for five nights – from September 4-9 – but no roads or paths will be fully closed during this time.
Tree cutting will also be carried out adjacent to the foot and cycle path between Evanton and Skiach Services on various dates. The cycle path, part of National Cycle Network Route 1, will remain open at all times and signs will be used to inform cyclists and other path users when work is taking place.
Kirsty Armstrong, scheme project manager for the vegetation clearance work, said: “Network Rail manages thousands of miles of trees and vegetation along the railway to ensure that everything which grows lineside is safe and does not cause delays to trains.
“Work has been ongoing in the area since June and it has been progressing well with minimal disruption. The next phase of this work brings us close to the road which means that we have to put in place overnight traffic management to continue to work safely.
“Similarly, we are working close to the path used by walkers and cyclists and so to avoid the need to close this completely, we will have signage in place to alert people to the work when it is happening and ask them to follow guidance to allow them to proceed safely through the area.
“We apologise for any inconvenience and thank people for their patience and cooperation as we carry out this work.”
