390. FOCHABERS BY-PASS (A96) - updated as at 20 Feb 2012

All photographs taken by Jeff Lowndes unless otherwise stated.

---------------------------------------------------

These photographs were taken between late 2008 and to date. It was difficult to choose how best to present them so that they gave 'the story' of the construction. I settled on the simple method of a walk from one end to the other but showing photographs of the construction for each section in the one area so that one could gauge the difference over time, without having to keep scanning through the page to compare the changes, thus different views of one area may be together - some taken from 'the other side of the road' .
I have made notes for each image or group of images and some may relate to a following series.
Any dates given are those on which the photographs was taken and not construction dates (unless otherwise stated)
I would be grateful if any suggestions or errors were notified to me so that I may present an up to date and accurate record. Thank you.

---------------------------------------------------

Transport Scotland were in charge of the contract for the Fochabers By-Pass,
the main contractors were Morrisons. I have been impressed with the efficiency and progress and the helpfulness of those involved in this major task.

---------------------------------------------------

27 Dec 11. Entering Fochabers from the Elgin direction. On a personal note the Coffee & Craft Shop (named The Gallery) we used to own is shown just past the green traffic light - it's canopy can just be seen).

---------------------------------------------------

THE NEXT GROUP OF IMAGES COVER THE AREA BETWEEN THE SPEY BAY ROUNDABOUT AND SEVERAL HUNDRED YARDS DOWN THE SPEY BAY ROAD THEN BACK UP AGAIN.

---------------------------------------------------

14 Oct 08. The views from the top of the Spey Bay Road (B9104) near where it joins the A96 showing the fields and trees in the castle grounds. Some of this was cleared for the new road, the extent of which will become clear later in 2012 when the road is opened and we can see the changes.

13 Feb 09. The castle wall has been breached to allow for tree cutting and construction vehicles to enter and start earth moving etc.
This is near where the Spey Bay Road (B9104) joins the A96.

2 Apr 10. Tree cutting and ground clearance continue.

26 Jul 11. Foundations for and the new castle estate wall under construction by the Spey Bay Road leading up to the new Roundabout.

26 Jul 11. Construction works at the top of Spey Bay Road and the new roundabout leading to the new road

---------------------------------------------------

THE NEXT GROUP OF IMAGES COVER THE AREA FROM THE SPEY BAY ROUNDABOUT UP THE BY-PASS ROAD TO THE GORDON CASTLE OVERPASS BRIDGE

---------------------------------------------------

Apr 10. A view from from within the Castle Gates of the metal bridge and then images taken from the Spey Bay Roundabout area showing the metal bridge (which I think was a temporary structure to allow for continued road construction whilst entry to the castle continued - this was replaced by a stone bridge which can be seen later) .

29 Jun 10. The Gordon Castle Over-Bridge taken from the Spey Bay Roundabout.

26 Jul 11. The Over-Bridge now with brickwork

26 Jul 11. The Spey Bay Roundabout which will now link the by-pass, the old A96 into Fochabers, the new A96 by-pass to the Fochabers Bridge and thence on to Elgin.

---------------------------------------------------

THE NEXT GROUP OF IMAGES TAKE US FROM THE TOP FOCHABERS ROUNDABOUT (approx) THEN DOWN THE LINE OF THE BY-PASS TO THE GORDON CASTLE OVERPASS BRIDGE, BACK UP THE OTHER SIDE AND THEN FROM THE OVERPASS SOME IMAGES DOWN TOWARDS THE SPEY BAY ROUNDABOUT

---------------------------------------------------

26 Dec 11. Taken from approx behind Christie's Garden Centre Main Car Park looking towards the new road and the Over-Pass for the road leading to Duncan's Farm.

26 Dec 11. Taken from where the by-pass joins the Fochabers Roundabout above Christies Garden Centre and looking down to where it is built into a cutting as it passes Gordon Chapel and Fochabers Lake.

26 Dec 11. Looking across the fields from Duncan's Farm area towards Gordon Chapel - the perspective/telephoto lens has helped 'hide' the new road in the cutting.

26 Dec 11. Looking down the new road towards Gordon Chapel. It shows the 'barriers' that have been especially constructed to minimise the traffic noise.

26 Dec 11. Looking down the line of the road towards Elgin, this view shows Gordon Chapel on the left, the narrow strip of land from the chapel to the embankment, the metal safety barriers, the tree planting, the 'sound barriers' and on the right the new brick wall separating the lake from the road.

26 Dec 11. Showing the metal fence, barriers, brick wall and embankment on the other side and the curve of the road in the distance.

19 April 2010. Wall at The Lake taken from Gordon Chapel

29 July 2010. Wall at The Lake taken from Gordon Chapel

29 July 2010. Looking right towards Duncan's Farm from Gordon Chapel Scaffolding

21 December 2010. The new wall at The Lake taken from scaffolding at Gordon Chapel after heavy snow fall.

26 Dec 11. Looking across the road opposite Gordon Chapel to see the barrier, overtaking lane, embankment, new brick wall with the lake beyond it.

26 Dec 11. Fochabers Lake on Gordon Castle Estate showing a corner of the new brick wall.

26 Dec 11. Showing the curve in the road with the new over-bridge from the gate-house to Gordon Castle

26 Dec 11. Showing Gordon Chapel with the blue & red privacy temporary fencing, tree planting and the end corner of the brick wall by the lake.

26 Dec 11. Showing the sound barriers which are constructed with many different layers. The outer layer of branches (willow?) can be seen.

21 Dec 10. Looking back up to Gordon Chapel from the Gordon Castle over-pass following heavy snow. Work had stopped on the by-pass.

26 Dec 11. Taken from the new Gordon Castle Over-Pass Bridge looking up to Gordon Chapel. The stonework has not yet been completed.

27 Dec 11. The Gordon Castle over-pass from the Spey Bay Roundabout and new wall

27 Dec 11. The Spey Bay Roundabout looking to the new wall and beyond in Gordon Castle Grounds

27 Dec 11. The Gordon Castle over-pass taken from the
gates at the entrance

27 Dec 11. The main gate to Gordon Castle Estate set between the gate houses and with sight of the overpass bridge beyond

---------------------------------------------------

THE NEXT GROUP OF IMAGES TAKES US FROM BAXTERS THEN TOWARDS ELGIN VIA COUL BRAE ROUNDABOUT. WE THEN FOLLOW THE ROAD TOWARDS ELGIN BUT USE THE ROTHES-MOSSTODLOCH UNDERPASS TO MOSSTODLOCH THEN BACK TO BAXTERS.

---------------------------------------------------

Approaching Coul Brae Roundabout from Fochabers showing signs and routes

The new road to Rothes from the Could Brae Roundabout near Baxters

The new road to Elgin after Coul Brae Roundabout

The Underpass over the old (now closed off) Rothes Road to Mosstodloch showing the new road, old road, the turning area and then the underpass looking towards Mosstodloch

Looking through the underpass on the old Rothes Road to Mosstodloch

The old road from Rothes to Mosstodloch, the new underpass is to the left (unseen) .

The old Rothes Road by the War Memorial at Mosstodloch showing the new road underpass in the distance where the road is now closed off.

---------------------------------------------------

THE NEXT GROUP OF IMAGES TAKE US THROUGH MOSSTODLOCH TO COWFORDS ROUNDABOUT THEN BACK BUT TAKING THE OLD ROAD TO FOCHABERS VIA BAXTERS.

---------------------------------------------------

The Old Cottage with the old road on the near side and the new by-pass on the other side.

Approaching the Cowfords Farm Roundabout towards Fochabers and showing the drainage pond.

Approaching Coul Brae Roundabout near Baxters towards Fochabers.

Looking from Baxters towards Fochabers showing how close the old and new road are at this point - the tanker lorry is on the new road.

Construction of the Underpass at Baxters looking towards Fochabers

Construction of the Underpass viewed looking towards Baxters

At Baxters near the construction of the Underpass looking towards Elgin

From Baxters towards Fochabers

---------------------------------------------------

Aerial Photographs as at March 2011 showing Gordon Chapel & The By-Pass

The aerial photographs shown below were taken by Gary Brindle (Scotavia Images) and permission to publish them here was given by Morrison's Construction Firm and Gary Brindle.
Copyright Restrictions Apply to these images.
Scotavia Images has a website at: www.scotaviaimages.co.uk
and Gary would welcome enquires about his photography.

------------


Previous images were taken from above the road.
Photographs taken on 30 Jan 12 the day before the by-pass was due to open (whilst only works traffic on road by kind permission of the works staff). These were taken whilst on the road surface.

I started photographing at the Spey Bay Roundabout end of the road and walked up towards the Fochabers Roundabout, then took more images on the way back down hence some will look similar.

I will go back and take more images when the road has been open for a while and the landscaping starts to flourish.

However, these have been taken to give a better perspective of the depth of the cutting for the road below the Gordon Chapel.

The Opening of Fochabers By-Pass on 31 January 2012

Cars start to queue to be among the first on the by-pass.
My car (grey VW) was third in the queue and my passenger was Mrs Jean Currie (oldest resident Fochaberian).
The second car had four pupils who had taken a lunch break from school to be among the first on the road on this historic day.

This photograph was taken on 20 Feb 12 from the cabin up the Winding Walks Hill where I hoped to see the extent of the new roadworks.
However, only a small section of the by-pass is visible, just to the right of Gordon Chapel.