HEAVY DISRUPTION FOR motorists travelling along the A96 through Elgin today is the result of a burst water main.
Traffic has been diverted this morning via Pluscarden Road and Wittet Drive in an operation that roads agency Bear Scotland admit is not perfect – but the only available option.
It is hoped that the repair work will be completed by tomorrow – in the meantime road users are advised to avoid the area if at all possible.
Repairs on the water main at the roundabout close to Dr Gray’s Hospital started at 9am with Scottish Water’s regional community manager in Moray, Diane Burgess, commenting: “We would like to apologise to motorists for the inconvenience caused and thank them for their patience while we carry out this vital repair to our network.”
Bear Scotland said that there was no option but to close the stretch of the A96 to allow emergency repairs to be carried out.
Those in favour of Moray Council’s plans to create a Western Approach Road in the area grasped the problems the closure is causing as a demonstration of the need for the £11.8million project.
Council Convener Alan Wright, who was heavily criticised last year for making similar comments after an accident on the road as it exited Elgin cause huge tailbacks, told the P&J: “This is unfortunate – but here we have yet another good reason for the Western Link Road to move forward.”