travelling conditions

[D.H]

Can anyone tell me what the roads are like in town and on the road to Southend?

[Ship called Dignity]

Can anyone tell me what the roads are like in town and on the road to Southend?

I think the Council's made a good job and clearing the main roads and pavements. What are the country roads like?

[D.H]

I understand that the main road to Southend was fairly clear. The gritting stops at Keil so after that it is much more slippy.

[jdcarra]

I think the Council's made a good job and clearing the main roads and pavements.

May be so in some places but not our way. As of last year there seems to be breakdown problems with gritter lorries.

What are the country roads like?

To put it bluntly the Carradale road is bl**dy awfull. Lack of a good gritting especially from Saddell to Carradale.

Friday afternoon coming out of Campbeltown in blizzard conditions-good covering of snow on the road-no sign of snowploughs, accidents waiting to happen with the icy surface under the new fallen soft snow.

Saturday, road conditions not any better, needing to see more of the gritter.

Sunday morning trying to get to Campbeltown was treacherous with the hills being very slippy. No sign of gritters on way down (Sunday off may be).On our hasty return around teatime with further flurries of snow making the road more dangerous there is the possibility the road may be undrivable in the morning affecting commuters and the school bus.

Coming into Carradale on Saturday afternoon at 1.35pm


The Skipness road just past Auchnasavil farm.


Driving down south Dippen hill Sunday morning 10.15am


Driving up Torrisdale Hill Sunday morning

[russanros]

I passed gritting wagons both days - I think the lack of traffic density also affects the speed at which the roadsalt works, in a city the salt gets ground into the snow & ice by wheels passing over this just doesn't happen on the country roads.

[jdcarra]

Speaking from a bus-driving point of view I operated the :
Friday
1545 Campbeltown to Carradale & return- this was the one most feared but was quite steady only upset by a few car drivers not making it up the braes and generally getting in the way.

Your a brave man 'russanros'.I dont think I would be on your bus with the road conditions on these hills,and as you quoted above about cars getting stuck,pretty scary to think of the consequences if it started to loss control.I have a friend who was a bus driver fro many years and said he would be very wary of attemping driving in those conditions (the hilly areas), thinking on the safety of his passangers I presume.

I passed gritting wagons both days - I think the lack of traffic density also affects the speed at which the roadsalt works, in a city the salt gets ground into the snow & ice by wheels passing over this just doesn't happen on the country roads.

That depends on how much grit is spread and the amount of salt added if any ???

If no grit, then no traffic to break up the icy road surfaces !!!

And just to add,this is by no means a dig at our local road workers and drivers whom can only do what they can with what resources and machinery they have, it is far further up the ladder where they shall have to consider that more will have to be done with the pattern of winters we are now getting.

[Pete Reek]

Maybe russanros wasn't stopping every so often to take photos like you jd, or heaven forbid that you were actually taking the photos while moving.The pics were obviously taken from the drivers side of the vehicle.
The Carradale road is always going to be a problem due to the hills and bends etc, and while I have every sympathy with those trying to travel to and from Carradale, you are after all managing to get there which is better than not moving at all.
Do you expect every drop of snow and ice to be cleared?
We have escaped the worst of the Arctic conditions affecting the rest of the country,and everyone seems to be working pretty hard to ensure that our wee part of it has the best travel conditions possible.
I believe that the Winter Maintenance plan is actually sanctioned by the councillors. I take it that you mean them when you mention those higher up the pecking order?

[jdcarra]

Maybe russanros wasn't stopping every so often to take photos like you jd, or heaven forbid that you were actually taking the photos while moving.The pics were obviously taken from the drivers side of the vehicle.

Your very observant Pete , but no I was not moving whilst taking pics.

The Carradale road is always going to be a problem due to the hills and bends etc, and while I have every sympathy with those trying to travel to and from Carradale, you are after all managing to get there which is better than not moving at all.

And that is well know as over the years, and may be that is why we need a little bit more roads attention than some.

Were not only talking about to Carradale, but Carradale to Claonaig.

May be some of us who are bold enough to take that decision to drive in them conditions, lots of other are not.

Do you expect every drop of snow and ice to be cleared?

On the roads, if possible , elsewere no problem.

We have escaped the worst of the Arctic conditions affecting the rest of the country,and everyone seems to be working pretty hard to ensure that our wee part of it has the best travel conditions possible.

Well if thats your thoughts Pete a lot of folks up here will disagree with you .

I believe that the Winter Maintenance plan is actually sanctioned by the councillors. I take it that you mean them when you mention those higher up the pecking order?

Well if thats the case they'll be reading this and may need to rethink their winter maintenance plan.

[russanros]

I dont think I would be on your bus with the road conditions on these hills,and as you quoted above about cars getting stuck,pretty scary to think of the consequences if it started to loss control.I have a friend who was a bus driver fro many years and said he would be very wary of attemping driving in those conditions (the hilly areas), thinking on the safety of his passangers I presume.

-indeed as would any self-respecting bus driver safety and comfort of passengers is paramount. The conditons of fresh snow are not a great impedence to buses, one thing I was told on coming to this area is that 'snow is rare' - and indeed the reactions of the community here would seem that that is true - must get to Tesco to buy a loaf - you can rest assured that in the pennine hills where I originate we are used to bigger and steeper hills than the road to Carradale (people were suprised that I cycle to Carradale and back? why?) and yearly snow, but not wanting to start a re-run of the Monty Python 'Yorkshiremen sketch' I'll leave it there!

I do feel however the snow here is being taken a little out of context compared with the amounts of snow in various parts of the NE of Scotland and indeed some of the rest of the UK, the far worse thing than the snow on Friday has been the freezing conditions that have followed, the road up to Ardrishaig & Lochgilphead was very dodgy, particularly between Tayinloan and Kennacraig as the slush had melted and refrozen probably a couple of times since it fell, tho' not as photogenic as thick fresh snow it presents a much bigger risk and challenge!

- given the cold tonight not looking forward to going back up in the morning either! - drive carefully folks.

[jdcarra]

The conditons of fresh snow are not a great impedence to buses, one thing I was told on coming to this area is that 'snow is rare' - and indeed the reactions of the community here would seem that that is true - must get to Tesco to buy a loaf

Snow , no it is not rare about this location, but yes, we always make a song and dance about it,just looking after our own patch.
And, the only reason those who could travel to Tesco's over the weekend was John the baker Bun (Patersons Shop) was away celebrating his big 40 .

you can rest assured that in the pennine hills where I originate we are used to bigger and steeper hills than the road to Carradale (people were suprised that I cycle to Carradale and back? why?) and yearly snow, but not wanting to start a re-run of the Monty Python 'Yorkshiremen sketch' I'll leave it there!

And i am well aquaint with them also having toured with my caravan near that area over the years.Your passengers will be pleased to know that and have confidence in you .

I do feel however the snow here is being taken a little out of context compared with the amounts of snow in various parts of the NE of Scotland and indeed some of the rest of the UK.

It always has been that case. We do know we are lucky compared to most other areas.
Cheers 'russanros' for your wee bit of input.

[Bitter End]

A83 closed at 16.02--Furnace to Inveraray -- severe iceing on road surface and accident

[Bitter End]

A83 reopened 18.00