Options for the A83

Sir,

The curse of the A83 is like a pandemic, it comes suddenly and affects all our lives in various ways and there never seems to be a cure that is effective over the long term.

This latest landslide has one good outcome, in that our politicians have supported a resolute action to – once and for all – provide a permanent solution.

That’s all well and good but what will the answer be from the Scottish Government. Will it be more of the same chipping away of the hillside?

There are several options, with differing price tags. The first could be a forest road, upgraded to allow traffic one way while the old military road provides travel the other way when landslides occur. And these landslides will come again and again. This would be the cheapest option and allow a reasonable flow of traffic.

Canopies over roads are great in countries that have a lot of snow but, as has been pointed out, debris from landslides does not melt away and has to be cleared. There would be an ongoing cost and closure of the A83 would be inevitable.

An elevated road, built well away from the existing road along the Rest, is a costly option but would give reassurance to those businesses in Argyll and hopefully to those considering setting up new concerns. It is this reassurance everyone needs.

The A83 is terrible from Tarbert to Campbeltown. It’s a narrow, winding, pothole-ridden road linking up villages and towns along its route. It is essential as it brings business and travellers to and from Argyll. If one part of this road fails there is closure and everyone suffers. A rail link and ferries would be a good addition to a reliable road. This would help revive Argyll’s economy and that is what politicians should be passionately arguing to get done.

Derek Anstee, Inveraray.