A835 Tarvie ‘corkscrew’ sees 10-year high in collisions
Picture: Ryan Huddlestone
A PROBE of an accident-prone stretch of road on the NC500 route in Ross-shire is set to determine what safety precautions can be taken to reduce risk. A seven-mile stretch of the A835 which runs from Gorstan Junction to Contin Junction is renowned locally for being prone to collisions and is often described as a "corkscrew". The latest statistics from Traffic Scotland, covering 2023, reveal that the A835 corkscrew saw the highest volume of accidents in 2023, compared to the last 10 years of recorded data.
In 2013 and 2014, collisions on the stretch between Gorstan and Contin junctions were zero. But since 2018, the road has consistently seen collisions every year -- of which the majority have been serious, or fatal.
The statistics, which are sourced from CrashMap, who obtain their figures from the Department for Transport, also revealed that the number of collisions on the A835 corkscrew in 2023 were double that of the previous year -- with 2023 seeing one fatal collision, two serious collisions and one collision of slight severity. One these collisions in 2023 involved Tony Rotchford and his wife Eileen, whose motorhome was struck by a falling tree in September of that year.
The couple were beginning their 10-day break in the Highlands when the tree fell onto and through their motorhome, causing extensive damage to the van and a "horrendous" facial injury to Tony.
After being knocked unconscious for 30 seconds, Eileen was "horrified" to see that the left side of Tony's face had been "torn off". His wife's quick reactions and the immediate response of a neurosurgeon who happened to be travelling in the car behind him averted a potentially much worse outcome.
Mr Rotchford voiced gratitude for the medical response in the aftermath of the alarming incident but said he believed the accident would have been avoided if tree-felling maintenance had taken place.
The dangerous stretch of the A835 has now pushed a local MSP, who frequents the road herself, to speak out on the issue. Contin Village Store on sale for GBP495,000[1] A835 hidden gem Tarvies Cafe praised for 'going extra mile' to reduce waste[2]
Invergordon 'serious assault' leaves two in hospital[3]
MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Maree Todd said: "I have been engaging with Transport Scotland for some time regarding safety concerns at this junction. In December, the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop, confirmed that the A835/A832 Gorstan junction had been identified as an accident cluster site through Transport Scotland's Annual Road Safety Review. "A collision investigation of the junction is scheduled for the 2025/2026 financial year, alongside additional speed surveys to help determine any necessary safety measures.
The Scottish Government has also asked BEAR Scotland to meet with community representatives to hear their concerns directly ahead of the investigation.
"Every casualty on our roads is a tragedy, and my thoughts are with those who have lost a loved one or have been affected by a collision."
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References
- ^ Contin Village Store on sale for GBP495,000 (www.ross-shirejournal.co.uk)
- ^ A835 hidden gem Tarvies Cafe praised for 'going extra mile' to reduce waste (www.ross-shirejournal.co.uk)
- ^ Invergordon 'serious assault' leaves two in hospital (www.ross-shirejournal.co.uk)
- ^ here (www.ross-shirejournal.co.uk)