Roadworks which caused chaos in Highland Perthshire yesterday will be in place for the rest of the week, engineers have confirmed.
Drivers were forced to carry out dangerous U-turns when they came across the resurfacing work on the A9, which blocked the slip road from Ballinluig.
The southbound carriageway was also reduced to one lane yesterday, causing tailbacks stretching miles, as tourists flocked to Perthshire to enjoy the school holidays.
All traffic heading southbound from Ballinluig, and on the A827 from Aberfeldy and Kenmore, was forced to detour north to the Killiecrankie junction, before joining the queue of traffic heading south.
Road engineers Bear Scotland insisted this was the safest place to turn, despite other junctions, including Pitlochry, being closer.
One motorist said he was forced to U-turn on the A9 slip road from Ballinluig as he did not see any warning signs on the approach to the junction.
“You expect a bit of a queue when there’s roadworks, it’s always going to happen, but the lack of signage is appalling,” he said.
“There was a lot of confusion, lorry drivers did not know where to go or how to get on to the A9. The ones who do know the road were getting fed up of driving north so were turning at places which weren’t safe, it was really dangerous.
“The signage they do have is just saying diversion, it doesn’t say where to or how long for and coming south there is a sign saying Ballinluig businesses are open but doesn’t say how to get to them. It has been chaotic.”
The road is being resurfaced this week, as part of a £210,00 investment.
It is unrelated to the 10-week ground investigation works being carried out between the Tay Crossing and Ballinluig Scotland as part of the dual carriageway project.
Claire Bridges, owner of Ballinluig Services, said she had lost takings after the first day of works.
“It has been complete chaos all day,” she said.
“We have had people in today and they just don’t have a clue where they are going.
“Locals at least know the back roads but because it’s the school holidays there are a lot of tourists and they don’t have a clue. They should have done the work at night and not during the school holidays.
“We are losing a lot of customers because HGV drivers who would usually fill up in Ballinluig won’t stop in because they don’t want a 10-mile diversion up to Pitlochry.”
A Bear Scotland spokesman insisted: “Appropriate signage is in place”.
He added: “During this period of works, southbound access to Ballinluig from the A9 will be maintained at all times and the A9 northbound will be unaffected. The on-slip from Ballinluig village however will be closed to allow works to be undertaken safely.
“All motorists joining the A9 southbound from Ballinluig will be diverted northbound on the A9 to the Killiecrankie junction to return on the A9 southbound. The diversion in place takes traffic to the Killiecrankie turnoff as this is the safest location.
“We assessed alternative options and deemed this the safest and most viable option to keep traffic on the trunk road network until we can turn them safely at Killiecrankie.”
The spokesman said the lane closure would be in place until work is completed on Monday October 22. The slip road will be closed each day, but will be open to traffic outwith working hours from Tuesday evening.
“We’ll continue to do all we can to complete the improvements as quickly and safely as possible,” he added.
