ENGINEERS from Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) have completed the task of constructing a rock fall barrier on the site of a landslide above the main Lochgoilhead timber haul road, and the B828 road near the A83 Rest and be Thankful.
Previous heavy rain and severe flooding caused significant damage across FLS-managed land in the Cowal region of Argyll. This included a large landslide located in Gleann Mor near Lochgoilhead. FLS explained that the landslide exposed an area of overhanging and fractured rock high on the hillside above steeply sloping ground, which was assessed to be a potential rockfall risk to the lower timber haul road and B828 road.
The work provided resilience to one of the main FLS access roads in the area, while improving safety for staff, contractors, and members of the public.
FLS area civil engineer Jonathan Young said, “FLS commissioned its geotechnical contractor to undertake a series of phased geotechnical works to reduce and mitigate the rock fall risk in Gleann Mor. This included an initial phase of breaking of large localised boulders on the upper hillside identified as being at high-risk of rock fall, using controlled blasting techniques.
“Phase 2 of the works comprised the installation of a 40m-long anchored rock fall catch fence located above the forest track. This challenging work located on difficult terrain has significantly reduced the rock fall risk to track and road users in this area.”
