Upcoming Works near Loch Glascarnoch
Garve and District Community Council
Added at 19:51 on 20 August 2026
This afternoon we have recieved an email from Lucy at SSE with the following update regarding upcoming works near Loch Glascarnoch in respect of the Western Isle HVDC Link.
Overview
SSEN Transmission's contractor will shortly begin de-stumping and vegetation removal works alongside sections of the public road in the Loch Glascarnoch area.
The works are required to facilitate future construction access for planned project activities. Existing tree stumps and vegetation will be removed within a defined corridor to enable safe access routes for construction vehicles and equipment.
When will the works take place?
Works are currently programmed to commence on Monday 24 August 2026 and are expected to continue for approximately four weeks, subject to weather and ground conditions.
The initial phase of activities will involve site establishment and de-stumping works. Traffic management is not currently anticipated during the first week of works and is expected to be introduced from the week commencing Monday 31 August 2026.
Working hours will be:
Monday to Friday
8:00am to 5:00pm
No weekend working is planned at this time
The works will be undertaken continuously until completion.
What will people see?
Members of the public travelling through the area may see:
Excavators operating adjacent to the roadside.
Banksmen in high-visibility clothing managing safety around active work areas.
Temporary warning signs alerting road users to construction activity.
Welfare vehicles supporting the workforce.
The works involve removing stumps and vegetation using specialist drilling equipment. Material removed from the stumps will be deposited safely away from the road verge and work area.
Following completion, there will be minimal visual change, with only the required access corridor having been cleared.
Equipment on site
The works will typically require:
Two excavator operators
Excavators with specialist drilling equipment
One welfare van
Traffic management measures where required
Traffic management and access
The majority of the works will be undertaken adjacent to the road and are being planned to minimise disruption to road users.
Works will commence on 24 August 2026. During the first week of activities, no traffic management is currently anticipated. Should traffic management be required, it is expected to be introduced from the week commencing 31 August 2026 as works progress through the area.
The project team will seek to minimise the use of traffic management wherever reasonably practicable. However, traffic management may be required at locations within the works area to maintain the safety of the workforce and road users. Requirements may change as works progress and in response to site, environmental or operational constraints.
Traffic management may include:
Temporary lane closures where required for safety.
Temporary lay-by closures while works are being carried out nearby.
Warning signs and traffic management equipment in operation.
Where lay-by closures are required, the intention is to close only one lay-by at a time wherever reasonably practicable. Should traffic management be required, any delays are expected to be limited and generally no longer than 10 minutes.
Any roadside traffic management would be located within the section of road shown on the accompanying map, between the two identified lay-bys. The exact location and duration of any traffic management would depend on the specific work activities being undertaken at the time and may be subject to change as works progress.
Impact on residents and road users
During the works, road users may notice:
Construction plant operating alongside the road.
Short-term temporary lane restrictions.
Temporary closure of individual lay-bys.
Increased contractor vehicle movements associated with the works.
Noise levels are expected to remain relatively low throughout the de-stumping activities.
Visual impacts will be limited and temporary, with the work focused on removing existing stumps and vegetation within a defined corridor.
Emergency access
Access for emergency services will be maintained at all times.
The works do not affect the road structure itself and are being undertaken adjacent to the carriageway. In the event of an emergency, work activities can be stopped immediately to allow safe and unrestricted passage.
Safety measures
The project team will implement a range of safety measures during the works, including:
Clearly signed work areas.
Temporary warning signage for road users.
High-visibility banksmen positioned around active work fronts.
Traffic management controls where necessary.
Safe segregation of plant, workforce and members of the public.
All temporary traffic management and signage will be removed once the works have been completed.
Thank you
We would like to thank local residents and road users for their patience and understanding while these essential access works are undertaken. Every effort will be made to minimise disruption and complete the activities safely and efficiently.
For further information about the project, please visit our dedicated Western Isles HVDC Link project webpage or contact the Project Team via the LT14MainlandCable@sse.com inbox.
Text above is verbatim as received, map provided as always we will keep you updated.