B842 to benefit from timber transport funding boost
The B842 road, which runs up Kintyre’s east coast from Campbeltown to Claonaig, is one of four routes to benefit from joint funding from Argyll and Bute Council and the Scottish Timber Transport Scheme (STTS).
Last week, the council’s environment, development and infrastructure committee endorsed the Annual Status and Options Report (ASOR), which summarises the authority's road assets as at April 2020 and sets out future investment options to be considered.
The council approved a £6.2 million investment programme for roads reconstruction in the February budget. Investment in the area's roads increased by around £1.7 million, following a successful bid to the STTS of £1.227 million.
This year’s capital road works programme was delayed by three months by Covid-19 and so the 2020-21 road reconstruction budget prioritises work supported by the STTS.
Surface dressing works were delayed until 2021-22 because colder, wetter weather prevents the surface dressing materials from being as effective. Road surfaces in poorer condition will be treated to protect from further damage over the winter.
As well as the B842, other routes which will be improved thanks to council and STTS funding are:
The A816, Lochgilphead to Oban; Lochawe haulage routes – B840, C30 and C29; and B8000, Strathlachlan, Cowal.
Councillor Rory Colville, policy lead for roads and infrastructure services, said: ‘Maintaining our roads is challenging, but vital for businesses and our communities. Nearly one third of our network is made up of unclassified roads.
‘More than 80 per cent of the network is in rural areas and 23 per cent are over peat, which costs more for construction and maintenance.
‘We continue to invest as much as we can to maintain our roads and to lever in additional money where possible. The fact is, it takes £8 million investment each year to keep our roads in their current condition. We do all we can to invest wisely, and where it will make the biggest difference.’