Rest and Be Thankful reopens with traffic controls after landslides

The latest landslip saw boulders the size of cars sweep onto the carriageway

By Democrat reporter

The A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful in Argyll has reopened under traffic-light control and will be in use over this bank holiday weekend..

Engineers have completed a series of repairs and clear-up operations following a landslide on 13 September.

The road was inspected by Police Scotland and geotechnical specialists for a final safety check before one lane was reopened.

Work remains ongoing, with the road safety barrier being reinstated as well as a temporary debris fence.

The nearby old military road had been used as a diversion after the main road was blocked by a “second significant landslide” in the space of six weeks.

Eddie Ross, of road operator BEAR Scotland, said: “Teams are continuing with mitigation work in the area to provide further landslip resilience to the route.

“We’re also continuing with work on the next phase of catch-pit installation on the A83 which will add further landslip mitigation in the area.”

Meanwhile, at Holyrood, Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton Constituency, raised the fact that the A83 had not been mentioned within the Scottish Government’s national infrastructure investment plan for 2020/21 to 2025/26.

Clearing up work taking place at the Rest and be Thankful. Pictures by BEAR.

She told Michael Matheson, the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, that the government’s failure to include the A83 would be hugely disappointing to the local communities who have been continuously disrupted by the problems on the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful.

She called on the Cabinet Secretary to commit to putting aside capital resources to address the need for a permanent solution.

The MSP said: “When reading the Scottish Government’s national infrastructure investment plan, I was shocked that there was no mention of the A83 as a priority for investment over the next five years – and I am sure local people will feel similarly surprised.

“I raised this with Michael Matheson in the chamber and called on him to commit to specific capital funding being set aside for the A83

“I welcomed his explanation that the plan was not exhaustive of all government projects over the next five years, meaning that the A83 could be included as a project to receive investment.

“However, I will not be completely satisfied until that investment is secured and an implementation date is set.

“I will continue to fight for urgent and long term action to be taken on finding a permanent solution to the continuing problems at the Rest and Be Thankful. We need to ensure that obstacles to people getting about and growing Argyll’s economy are removed.”