A83 catch-pits project starts

THE NEXT phase of netting and other measures to make the A83 safer is under way.

Work on three catchpits at the bottom of the slope began on Monday October 23.

The pits are designed to prevent any debris from landslips reaching the road. The project is expected to cost around £1.8 million.

Work has previously been carried out to establish the best location for the catch-pits. The design has been endorsed by the A83 taskforce, with members given an update at a recent meeting.

Transport Minister Humza Yousaf said: ‘The Scottish Government remains firmly committed to the maintaining access to the A83.

‘More than £58 million has been invested in the route since 2007 to the end of the last financial year, including almost £10 million for landslip mitigation at the Rest and Be Thankful.

‘Once completed, these three pits will have the potential to hold upwards of 15,000 tonnes of debris material, were this to be generated by a landslip.

‘This provides additional resilience capacity.

‘The nets continue to prove their worth having caught material from a small slippage earlier this month. We understand the community is concerned about a delay to the start of the catch-pit work but it was important we had the cor- rect preparations in place and now that the work is under way we are looking forward to seeing it progressing to keep Argyll open for business.’