Farm wall continually having to be rebuilt due to crashes at A9 junction
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Drivers failing to observe "give way" signs are causing a recurring problem for a local farmer who has had to keep rebuilding a wall at a controversial A9 junction.
Christopher Coghill, of Knockdee Farm, Halkirk, has found the stone wall bordering a 20-acre field at his Georgemas property wrecked on five occasions over the past 11 months after vehicles careered across the junction at the top of the Causewaymire.
Mr Coghill said he was at a loss to understand the behaviour of some northbound drivers on their approach to the A882 en route to Thurso.
Of the five motorists who have crashed into the wall, two have failed to stop and report the accident and one of the vehicles was so badly damaged it ended up a write-off.
The farmer said: "It is just the sheer hassle and inconvenience, along with the time it takes to get insurance. We have had lack of grazing too with that many holes in the wall we couldn't graze the field.
"I don't want anybody in it again. All the debris that gets left behind is also a problem."
Mr Coghill pointed out that the big road sign at the junction had been knocked down in June last year in the second of the accidents and has not yet been replaced. He feels that the lack of a sign did not help the next three drivers who careered across the road into the wall.
"I think we should have another sign further down the road or something else that would help reduce speed," he said.
"It is pure speed that has been causing the accidents – they are not stopping at the junction."
Caithness civic leader Willie Mackay – who was visiting the farm on agricultural duties in his role as AI cattle breeding technician – said that offenders disappearing overnight from the scene had led to Mr Coghill having difficulty finding out who the culprits were.
The grass field is normally stocked with a herd of 40 pedigree Aberdeen Angus cattle.
Mr Mackay, a Highland councillor for Wick and East Caithness, said: "This has been a controversial junction since its formation several years ago and operators Bear Scotland or Transport Scotland, after being asked, have done nothing about it.
"As motorists approach the junction they are lured into thinking there is a slip road ahead when there is not and they end up coming out in front of traffic coming from the Watten direction also heading to Thurso, leading to road-rage scenes."
Mr Mackay pointed out that in these particular incidents the drivers had evidently failed to stop at the two "give way" signs and ended up smashing into the farmer's stone wall.
A spokesperson for Transport Scotland said: “Our operating company, Bear Scotland, is carrying out an investigation at the Causewaymire junction, as well as the A9/B874 junction.
“They will also replace some of the signage at the junction once Covid-19 working restrictions allow.”
