A LANDSLIDE has shut a major road in southern Scotland – just three days after another A route collapsed nearby.
A five-mile stretch of the A72 between Peebles and Innerleithen in the Scottish Borders was shut after the area was hit by the landslip on Thursday night.
Motorists were forced to turn back after being faced by a mountain of earth and diversions have since been put in place.
The subsidence comes just three days after a section of the A708 near Moffat – just 20 miles away – collapsed into a stream.
A Police Scotland spokesman confirmed the landslip shortly after 11pm between Glentress and KirnieTower.
“Scottish Borders Council are now in charge of the incident,” he said.
The A72 trunk road follows the banks of the River Tweed and is notorious for being affected by mass land movements.
In August 2008 heavy rain led to a landslide that caused the same road to be closed.
The road was also closed for a week in December 2002 when cracks in an embankment caused 60 tonnes of earth to spill onto the route.
Transport company First Scotland East alerted its customers to potential delays ahead of their morning travel via Twitter.
They wrote: “Diversion in place between Innerleithen & Peebles due to road closure.
“Services operating via B709,B7062 to rejoin the A72 at Cardrona.”
One motorist was frustrated at the closure but tried to find a sliver lining.
Rachel Campbell tweeted: “Road from Innerleithen to Peebles shut so have to go back.
“Oh well, at least I might miss a bit of first period.”
