Roadworks on the Rest and Be Thankful will be withdrawn to cope with tourist traffic.
by Lucy Ashton
Summertime has come, and as the volume of tourist traffic on the roads increases exponentially, Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie has welcomed news that traffic restrictions are set to be removed on the Rest and Be Thankful.
Although the Labour politician is content just for now, she has also highlighted the ongoing need for the implementation of a swift long-term solution to the problems faced by motorists heading to Inverary and the West Highlands.
Dame Jackie has repeatedly urged the Scottish Government to find a solution to the damaging impact of the crisis on Argyll & Bute’s economy as a result of repeated challenges with the road.
Roads agency BEAR Scotland has announced that traffic lights restricting vehicles will be removed for the summer period, although they are scheduled for an unwelcome return in September.
The contractor has completed the current phase of maintenance, but will continue to monitor the steep hillside for signs of any impending landslip.
Smaller-scale works will continue at three locations along the route – at Glen Kinglas for two weeks from June 15th, at Loch Restil, and at Butter Bridge.
Butter Bridge will be repaired, hopefully over the summer.
Dates for the latter works have not yet been confirmed, but will likely take place over the summer.
The scenic stretch has been closed repeatedly since 2007 due to landslides, forcing drivers to take a 60-mile detour.
Campaigners for improvements are clear that work on a long-term solution to the issue, which began in 2023, is not progressing swiftly enough.
The Scottish Government’s preferred remedy involves the construction of a debris flow shelter, which emerged after design and assessment work on five alternatives in the Glen Croe valley.
Instead, it has been decided that the shelter will cover the carriageway, shielding the road surface from falling material.
However, implementing these operations is proving lengthy, with construction expected to take between three and four years when it gets underway.
Delivery of a permanent solution is not expected until later in the decade or the early 2030s.
Business owners and residents of Argyll are clear that the issues affecting the vital Rest and Be Thankful route are damaging trade and leading the area to become more isolated.
The Rest & Be Thankful campaign group has suggested alternatives which would be quicker to implement and, they claim, more cost-effective.
Dame Jackie Baillie MSP said: “I welcome the news that the traffic lights which cause delays for drivers are to be removed over the summer months.
“This is good news for communities and businesses in Argyll, which have been hard hit by the ongoing disruption on this vital stretch of road.
“I welcome the work of the A83 Taskforce have done to progress a long-term solution, but this cannot come quickly enough, and communities and businesses continue to suffer.
“It is a matter of some urgency that the Scottish Government consider all potential solutions and prioritise this route for investment.”
Maintenance works at the Rest and Be Thankful will recommence from September 2026, as work on maintenance of landslide barriers, fencing improvements, and slope stabilisation gets underway.