A gaping sinkhole has appeared on a main road outside Stirling.
Emergency road closures are in place on the A9 at Bridge of Allan, after part of the east-bound carriageway near the entrance to Stirling University collapsed.
The extensive damage is thought to have been caused by heavy rain.
Local people were bemused by the scenes, with one local cyclist, Stuart Morin, posting on social media: “I cycled over this [area] on Monday and thought there was the weirdest bump in the road like super smooth, but a big indent that wasn’t there before.
“Glad this didn’t happen when I went over it.”
MP Alyn Smith also shared a picture of a drama on Twitter and joked that council workers were ‘looking into it’.
Stirling Council is investigating the sinkhole with barriers out up to protect road users.
Traffic was able to pass through the area, but an emergency road closure is to take place today (Thursday) to assess the situation.
A Stirling Council official told Bridge of Allan councillors in an email dated Wednesday: “The sinkhole has been surveyed and appears to have been caused by wash out, potentially from a damaged culvert. Barriers have been installed.
“In order to get a clearer picture of the damage the vegetation is being cut back on the other side of the road in order to inspect the culvert.
“Upon surveying the sink hole services can be seen in the vicinity and the relevant utility companies have been contacted.
“A crack has also appeared in the road and therefore metal plates are being put in place to provide reinforcement to the surface. With the plates in place the road is passable to traffic.
“However, an emergency road closure will be put in place for tomorrow (Thursday) to allow the team, following dialogue with the utility companies, to undertake more extensive investigations to ascertain the underlying issue, identify any remedial works that require to be undertaken and how the repair will be undertaken.
“This work will involve digging back and exposing the extent of the washout and potential damage to the culvert”.
A Stirling Council spokesperson added: “Stirling Council has closed Kenilworth Road from its junction with Sheriffmuir Road to its junction with the A9 (Airthrey Road).
“A diversion is in place via Kenilworth Road and Well Road.
“This follows a sinkhole opening up on the eastbound carriageway of the A9 at the junction with Kenilworth Road, on the approach to the Airthrey Roundabout.
“The council has placed barriers around the affected section of the road as urgent investigations get underway.
“Motorists are being advised to avoid the area if possible until further notice.”
