Comment posted Overnight closures for Connel Bridge for repairs to damage caused by high truck by Robert Wakeham.
At the risk of Ferryman accusing me of not being a regular user of the Connel Bridge (I plead guilty) I’d like to know why – to the best of my knowledge – there’s no form of overhead warning barrier that triggers stop lights if an overheight vehicle approaches the bridge? This type of ‘fail-safe’ precaution is common enough in some European countries – for example, at level crossings where there’s an overhead electric line.
In this country any construction site involving traffic under low power lines will be legally required to have ‘goalposts’, and it leaves me wondering if the trunk road authority is asleep – or maybe their managing agents get a percentage of the cost of repairing the likes of Connel Bridge? I just can’t believe that the cost of repairs – and disruption – is outweighed by the cost of fitting effective safety warnings.
Robert Wakeham also commented
- In that case perhaps a reliable stop light system with flashing ‘overheight’ warning would be the obvious failsafe system – the flashing speed signs at the southern entrance to Inveraray and on Great Western Road near Drumchapel are very noticeable.
- What I’ve seen in some places is a hefty steel pipe suspended from cables over the road – no electrical system to go wrong, but a driver would have to be deaf or drunk not to be aware of a ‘hit’. (having said that, I wonder what was the driver’s excuse at Connel if – as it would appear – he ploughed on for some distance after hitting the first girder?)
Recent comments by Robert Wakeham
- Minutes of today’s meeting of ‘Concerned Councillors’ Group
Perhaps Argyll should be reclassified from a local authority area to a semi-wilderness zone not suited to self-government, of a similar standing to the Northwest Territories in Canada; if that doesn’t work, then how about the Tribal Areas of Pakistan’s Northwest Frontier? – anarchic groups that continually disintegrate and morph into new allegiances, beyond rational control and inviting attack by pilotless rocket-firing drones controlled from outside the country’s borders. Attacks noisily condemned by a dis-functional central government, but secretly welcomed. - CalMac geared up to start Campbeltown-Ardrossan ferry service on Thursday night
If indeed Calmac were ‘thrown a curve ball’ by the Scottish government then it doesn’t bode well for the future, if indeed the government is into cynical manipulation of public finances to enhance their popularity.
The trouble is, this would fit with the apparent cynical manipulation, by this government, of Argyll & Bute Council politics – and if this really is all in character then it reinforces my cynicism about politicians in general.
You can find some decent ones, in most parties, if you try – but anyone listening to Alex Salmond jousting with James Naughtie on BBC R4 ‘Today’, this morning, will have heard him claim that Denis Healey (whom I respected for his ability in government) has said that the Treasury deliberately underplayed the value of Scottish oil in years gone by to make independence seem less attractive.
A plague on the lot of them. - Walsh to lead all but Lib Dems, Conservatives and George Freeman
I’m just wondering if this is a wild goose chase – barking up the wrong tree, so to speak – and it might be a creature of a different political colour altogether? - Walsh to lead all but Lib Dems, Conservatives and George Freeman
Talking of Conservatives, and bearing in mind the ornithological wonders of this part of the world, has anyone yet spotted a swivel-eyed loon? – or is it an imaginary creature? - First Minister’s choice not to condemn mob behaviour proves Farage point
Farage was in Edinburgh to raise the profile of UKIP – don’t underestimate wee Nige.
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At the risk of Ferryman accusing me of not being a regular user of the Connel Bridge (I plead guilty) I’d like to know why – to the best of my knowledge – there’s no form of overhead warning barrier that triggers stop lights if an overheight vehicle approaches the bridge? This type of ‘fail-safe’ precaution is common enough in some European countries – for example, at level crossings where there’s an overhead electric line.
In this country any construction site involving traffic under low power lines will be legally required to have ‘goalposts’, and it leaves me wondering if the trunk road authority is asleep – or maybe their managing agents get a percentage of the cost of repairing the likes of Connel Bridge? I just can’t believe that the cost of repairs – and disruption – is outweighed by the cost of fitting effective safety warnings.
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there are warning signs linked to a lazer beam – to the south and the north.
notoriously unreliable.
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What I’ve seen in some places is a hefty steel pipe suspended from cables over the road – no electrical system to go wrong, but a driver would have to be deaf or drunk not to be aware of a ‘hit’. (having said that, I wonder what was the driver’s excuse at Connel if – as it would appear – he ploughed on for some distance after hitting the first girder?)
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There is also a physical bar to warn drivers but with the lorries stereo on full you might not notice it even if you do hit it. Drivers are supposed to know what the height of their vehicles are and read the signs.
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In that case perhaps a reliable stop light system with flashing ‘overheight’ warning would be the obvious failsafe system – the flashing speed signs at the southern entrance to Inveraray and on Great Western Road near Drumchapel are very noticeable.
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As linnhe says, there is a recently-installed system of vehicle height sensors linked to NADIX-type display boards/flashing lights, but there have been some ‘teething troubles’ with these.
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