Road Maintenance

John MacFadyen maintains the roads at this end of the Ardnamurchan peninsula. With only one narrow road connecting us to the outside world, his is a vital job. This morning, after recent heavy rain, he was clearing ditches and drains, and filling potholes. When the weather deteriorates as the winter sets in, he'll be out at night with the snow plough and grit spreader.

The road as far as Salen, some 20 miles away, is single track. There are passing places every hundred metres or so but, when people meet on the road, many drive onto the verges to pass rather than reverse to a passing place. The result, John says, is that the verges deteriorate, allowing pools of water to form which very quickly undermine and destroy the tarmac. And with so much standing water on the road surface, potholes form quickly which, unless filled, grow to become dangerous.

The road is being improved every year. With grants from the European Development Fund, some of the worst and most dangerous sections are being straightened and widened. There were places where the road threatened to slide down the hill: these have now been dealt with. But European grants do not help with the general, day-to-day maintenance. A few years ago Highland Council employed two men to care for our roads. Now John, with support from Strontian, does the job alone.