A9 Road Crossing Appeal - Don't close 300 year old road

Transport Scotland are building a new section of Dual Carriageway at Etteridge that will have a closed barrier central reservation that will stop all off road non vehicular users of the 300 year old Wade's Road from Kingussie to Fort Augustus crossing the A9 here.

This is a popular route with locals, visitors and those doing across Scotland East to West Journeys. The original line of Wade's Road was slightly further North West but was moved back to the Etteridge Road end to avoid it crossing the dual carriageway section at the Crubenmore Railway bridge when the original New A9 was built in the 1970's. Now Transport Scotland wants to close this crossing point completely and they claim they have carried out a thorough consultation but few organisations even replied, especially the National Park who are the recognised Access Authority for this area.

The old military road is recognised as a formal right of way on both sides of the A9 and so should the crossing be considered the same. It is also possible thats closing this crossing breaches Scottish Access Legislation too.

Our campaign is currently supported by the Cairngorms National Park, the Local Outdoor Access Forum, Scottish Rights of Way, Heritage Paths Scotland, British Horse Society, Trekking and Riding Society of Scotland, British (Carriage) Driving Society, Various local Councillors, Various MP's and MSP's etc.
The photo above shows a simple livestock underpass further north on the A9 just like what is required at Etteridge to improve road safety for non vehicular users who want to cross the line of the A9 at that point.

During the consultation Transport Scotland told people and groups that "current levels of access for walkers, cyclists and equestrian users would be preserved when the dual carraigeway" - so of course people like the Scottish Rights of Way took this to mean that some form of crossing from the Wades Road on the East side of the A9 to the Core Footpath Network and Sustrans route on the other side of the A9 would be preserved.

However Transport Scotland did not see it that way and are refusing to accept the need for the crossing at all. This will out peoples lives at risk when they try and dodge traffic while trying to jump the central reservation on this section and possibly risk serious injury or even death.

PLEASE READ ALL THE GREAT COMMENTS LEFT ON THE PETITION, YOU NEED TO CLICK "VIEW" TO SEE THEM AND PLEASE GO AHEAD AND LEAVE YOUR OWN COMMENT TOO. MANY OF THESE COMMENTS BACK UP WHAT WE ARE SAYING AND SHOW THAT THIS CROSSING IS IN REGULAR USE BY HORSE RIDERS AND OTHER USERS. NOBODY THINKS IT WILL BE SAFE TO DO AWAY WITH THE CROSSING IN THE MANNER TRANSPORT SCOTLAND PROPOSE.

Please visit our Facebook Page for regular updates and pictures. Search for it on FB by name and ask to join.
"Stop Transport Scotland Closing the A9 Crossing at Etteridge / Crubenmore" or use the link below - paste it in to your Internet Explorer.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_189938627705256

The Hill Track Route 207 lifted from National Park showing the A9 road crossing at Etteridge.

An underpass at Aviemore for the Craigellachie Nature Reserve under the A9 - bigger and better than what we are asking for at Etteridge. Does it look like it would cost GBP#700,000.00 ?

Using another A9 Underpass near Kingussie, horses and ponies from Newtonmore Riding Centre - a much safer option than crossing a busy dual carriageway - and a much cheaper alternative to risking people's lives.