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Review does not support 'blanket reduction' of speed limit between Bonar Bridge and Ardgay





A LONG-RUNNING CAMPAIGN to achieve a 30mph zone on the A836 between two Sutherland villages looks set to be only partially successful.

Residents in Bonar Bridge and Ardgay have been lobbying for the 60mph restriction on the mile-long straight between the two communities to be lowered to 30mph.

A review of the speed limit between Bonar Bridge and Ardgay recommends that the 30mph limit be extended from the Bonar Bridge end for 270m or s
A review of the speed limit between Bonar Bridge and Ardgay recommends that the 30mph limit be extended from the Bonar Bridge end for 270m or s

One local resident claimed last month that the stretch of road, where a pedestrian died two years ago, was being used as a ‘race track’ with some vehicles reaching estimated speeds of 70mph.

However, a senior roads official is now recommending that just 270m of the route in question be covered by a 30mph restriction at the Bonar Bridge end with the remainder of it coming under a 50mph restriction.

In effect, it would mean a short extension southwards of the 30mph limit already running through the centre of Bonar Bridge.

The speed limit will be discussed by members of Sutherland County Committee when they meet on Monday.

They will have before them a speed limit review report prepared by Caithness and Sutherland roads operation manager Joanne Sutherland.

The report makes it clear that a “blanket reduction in the speed limit from 60mph to 30mph” is “overwhelmingly” not supported by a detailed analysis of the route and its usage.

Surveys had found that the average speed of vehicles using the route was 49mph westbound and 50mph eastbound.

“The mean average speeds do not sit within the range where a reduction of the speed limit from 60mph to 30mph would be sustainable or achievable without significant engineering cost,” reads the report.

“This would be required to change the geometry of the road to ensure the new 30mph speed limit is self-enforcing.”

However, the review adds that although the guidelines did not support an overall lowering of the limit, there were allowances for “local mitigation measures to ensure pedestrian safety and to take into account local user opinion”.

It was felt that a 270m or so extension towards Ardgay of the Bonar Bridge 30mph limit would be appropriate because of the number of amenities and businesses in close proximity.

These include the Kyle of Sutherland Hub, used by young people; Ardgay Game; and the public toilets and car park.

And the report continues: “Given this section is a link route between the village of Bonar Bridge and Ardgay with public support for a reduced limit, to improve the perception of safety on this route, a reduced speed limit of 50mph would be possible.”


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