Landslide-hit Rest and Be Thankful to be fully opened during 48-hour trial period as contractors test new safety fences
The A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful will be open 24 hours a day for the first time in over eight months this week.
The major road through Argyll had been closed or partially closed after heavy rain caused a landslip of 6,000 tonnes of debris in August last year.
However, a trial 24-hour open operation over the next two days will now consider if the route can remain open safely overnight on a longterm basis.
The old military road will remain on standby as a local diversion route, if needed.
BEAR Scotland has been working to enhance landslip resilience on the hillside above and below the road.
This work includes installing a new debris fence, strengthening existing debris fences and enhancing the drainage in the area.
Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative, said: “The two-day trial of running the A83 24-hours a day will allow us to identify any issues associated with operating the route at all hours for road users, and will enable us to optimise the convoy operation, shift patterns and overnight monitoring practices for the coming period.
“The Old Military Road local diversion route through the centre of the glen will remain on standby and we’ll have teams ready to implement the route quickly should conditions in the area or on the hillside begin to change.
“While we’re hopeful we can safely move to 24-hour operation of the A83, we must underline that if there is wet weather forecast or a weather warning – particularly overnight – which we think could impact the hillside then we will look to use the OMR as before.
"Road user safety remains of paramount importance and we will only operate the A83 if we are content that it is safe to do so.
“Teams have been working 24/7 on the mitigation measures in the area, including strengthening the debris fences and creating a new debris catch-pit, with such features strengthening landslip resilience and providing greater protection to road users. As ever we thank road users and the local community for their patience while we do everything we can to address the ongoing issues at the Rest.”