Dealing with emergencies
The OCs must provide resources to deal immediately with emergencies on the network or to assist the emergency services.
Typical emergencies that are dealt with by the OCs can include:
• Flooding
• Overturned lorries
• Debris removal
• Fallen trees
• Road traffic accidents
• Landslips
• Impact and damage to structures
• Spillages
• Incidents due to adverse weather
Contractual response times for emergencies vary depending on the type of road and time of day. For motorways and dual carriageways the initial response time is one hour during the day and one and a half hours overnight. For other trunk roads the initial response time is one and a half hours during the day and two hours overnight.
2.6 Emergencies
Emergency response
The OCs dealt well with emergencies throughout the year, responding quickly and professionally to try and minimise delays to road users.
NE – BEAR
Although there were no major incidents, the OC dealt with numerous smaller emergencies, the majority of which
were spillages, road traffic accidents
and debris.
SE - BEAR
There were two major incidents during
the year, both on the M80/A80.
In June 2007, subsidence was discovered in the northbound carriageway of the A80 near Castlecary. BEAR responded quickly, installing traffic management measures to allow ground investigations to be progressed. The OC then designed and completed the stabilisation of the old mine workings, minimising the disruption to road users (see figure 40).
In October 2007, a lorry carrying 1800 live chickens overturned on the M80 just north of Castlecary.
The road was closed for nine hours, with local diversions set up, to allow vets and specialist handlers access to the incident to collect up and clear the chickens from the road and surrounding area.
BEAR responded well to both these major emergencies, ensuring the roads were reopened as soon as possible.
The OC also dealt with a number of smaller incidents over the course of the year, the majority of which were debris, road traffic accidents and dead animals.
NW – Scotland TranServ
In late October, a landslip occurred on the A83 near the summit of the Rest and Be Thankful completely closing the road to traffic (see figure 41).
The OC responded well to the incident, setting up and maintaining a lengthy diversion route. Whilst the road was closed, Scotland TranServ undertook works to stabilise the mountain above and below the road. A helicopter was used to assist in a controlled landslip of loose and dangerous material above the road using water bombing and jetting.
After being closed for just under three weeks, the road was reopened with temporary traffic lights in place. These traffic lights remain in place, with the slopes being subject to ongoing monitoring, particularly during adverse weather.
Scotland TranServ performed well in dealing with this incident getting the road reopened as quickly as possible, which was reflected in comments made by the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and
