27 Dec, 2009, Scotland, UK

The main route north through Scotland, the A9, had been reopened northbound after it was closed for nine hours by the snow and jack-knifed Lorries. The Highways maintenance contractor, Bear Scotland said that the carriageway had been shut to all traffic.

Eight inches of snow had fell on an area around the Auchterarder in Perthshire overnight and 31 Lorries were stuck on the carriageway. Further snow was also forecast to fall in the east of the country later. A Bear Scotland spokesperson said that the two inches of snow had been forecast but four times that actually had fell on the Perthshire section of the road.

The Police across Scotland continued to urge drivers not to travel in the worst affected areas with the black ice and fresh snow creating treacherous conditions. The Meteorologists has said that the snowfall was expected to turn to sleet and rain later and gradually move southwards. The lower levels were not expected to be too badly affected, but there was a potential for about 3-4in of snow on higher ground.

Meanwhile in the Borders, the serious crash at Tweedsmuir resulted in closure of the A701, between Broughton and Moffat. In Dumfries and Galloway, sleet and ice overnight have also resulted in the difficult conditions.