A9 open again after snow closure

Roads like the Edinburgh city bypass were badly affected

The main route north through Scotland, the A9, has been reopened northbound after it was closed for nine hours by snow and jack-knifed lorries.

Highways maintenance contractor Bear Scotland said the carriageway had been shut to all traffic since 0330 GMT.

Eight inches of snow fell on an area around Auchterarder in Perthshire overnight and 31 lorries were stuck on the carriageway.

Very low temperatures were forecast across Scotland overnight.

A Bear Scotland spokesperson said two inches of snow had been forecast but four times that actually fell on the Perthshire section of the road.

The A9 was closed for about nine hours by jack-knifed lorries

Police across Scotland continued to urge drivers not to travel in the worst-affected areas with black ice and fresh snow creating treacherous conditions.

Meteorologists said the snowfall was expected to turn to sleet and rain later and gradually move southwards.

They said lower levels were not expected to be too badly affected, but there was potential for about 3-4in of snow on higher ground.

Meanwhile in the Borders, a serious crash at Tweedsmuir resulted in the closure of the A701, between Broughton and Moffat.

In Dumfries and Galloway, sleet and ice overnight also resulted in difficult conditions.

The A74 around the border was particularly bad but all roads were affected.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version