Progress made at A68 collapse site, but new pictures show extent of damage

By Kevin Janiak
Published 20th Aug 2020, 09:34 BST
Work in progress at the site near Fala.Work in progress at the site near Fala.
Work in progress at the site near Fala.
New pictures from roads maintenance company Bear Scotland show that good progress has indeed been made at the site near Fala where the A68 road collapsed during last Wednesday’s thunderstorms.

However, they also show the sheer extent of work that needs to be done to repair the embankment before they even think about repairing the road.

Yesterday, more than two layers of rockfill was established at the base of the 20m embankment that failed in last week’s extremely heavy rainfall.

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A Bear Scotland spokesperson told us: “Progress on the site has benefited from extended working hours agreed with the local quarry supplying the 5,000 tonnes of stone required to reinstate the slope.

Initial layer of stones are laid down to start to reform the embankment.Initial layer of stones are laid down to start to reform the embankment.
Initial layer of stones are laid down to start to reform the embankment.

“Additionally, utilities companies have continued work to temporarily divert services to allow the repair to be completed safely.

“The expert team involved in the repair are liaising closely with local authorities in relation to the impact of the closure.”

The utility companies on site are completing the temporary diversion of fibre optic cables to enable the repair.

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A lengthy diversion is in place, with northbound traffic diverted to the A6091 north of St Boswells and at the junction with the A7 will travel via Galashiels, Stow and Fountainhall. From here, vehicles can join the B6458 to rejoin the A68 at the Tynehead junction. Southbound traffic follows the same diversion in the opposite direction.

Related topics:St BoswellsGalashiels

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