A83 Rest solution welcome but questions still remain
Although welcome, there is frustration that the longterm solution to landslides and closures on the A83, announced late last week, was not arrived at sooner.
The preference for a 1.4km “debris flow shelter” tunnel, open on one side, at the Rest and Be Thankful has been announced by the Scottish Government as its preferred option at an estimated cost of £405-407 million at 2023 prices.
Mid Argyll councillor Dougie Philand said: “It is welcome news that the Scottish Government has reaffirmed its commitment to funding a permanent solution for the Rest and Be Thankful, particularly during difficult fiscal times.
“My concern is that the idea of the debris shelter was brought up a number of years ago by the late Donald Clark, owner of the George Hotel, and the idea was dismissed.
“The Rest and Be Thankful stretch of the A83 has been blocked by landslides for more than a decade.
“We now have to wait for environmental assessments, further development assessments, road traffic orders and possible compulsory purchases which will mean that the project will not commence for dear knows how long.
“Had the suggestion been taken forward a number of years ago when first muted I’m sure the project would be nearing completion by now.
“We await further information and particularly timelines when the project will actually start on the ground as a matter of urgency as the continued uncertainty of the road is clearly affecting the economic and social fabric of Argyll.”
John Gurr, part of the Rest and Be Thankful Campaign group set up in 2012, was one of a number of people due to meet with Scottish transport minister Kevin Stewart MSP on Tuesday - the same day the MSP resigned his ministerial post.
Mr Gurr said: “It is good news that Transport Scotland has decided on a permanent solution to the road closures at the RABT.
“However, there still remain questions that need to be answered before we can say that anything will actually happen.
“This is only an announcement of a preferred solution, and there is more consultation, design work and procurement processes to go through before a project is committed to and work started.
“We would like to see a start and completion date for the permanent solution, and that the money to build it will not disappear in budget cuts
before this work can begin. We would like to see how twoway traffic can be maintained during the construction works - or is the plan to use the Old Military Road under convoy until this is completed?
“We would also like to understand whether, once the debris shelter is built, will it still close when there is a threat from landslides.”
The selection of the preferred option follows design and assessment work on five options through the Glen Croe valley, said the Scottish Government’s transport agency, Transport Scotland, on Friday June 2.
“Debris flow shelters are akin to a tunnel with one open side and are a recognised means of protecting transport infrastructure and its users from falling rock and debris in areas susceptible to debris flows or landslides. They have been successfully used across Europe and beyond for many years.
“This option closely follows the alignment of the existing A83 trunk road for 2.4km from the Croe Water heading north to the Rest and Be Thankful car park and involves constructing a debris flow shelter over a length of approximately 1.4km with an additional 180 metres of catch pit and protection wall to protect the road and road users from future debris flow events.
“An online exhibition has gone live where the public can view and comment on the preferred route option.”
Prior to his resignation on Tuesday, Mr Stewart said: “We want to hear from the public on our proposals and both the online exhibition and public exhibitions in two weeks are your opportunity to tell us what you think.
“We are [also] looking to increase the resilience of the temporary diversion route along the existing Old Military Road. The first phase of implementing the medium-term solution will begin later this year with realignment of the southern end of the route.
“This will increase resilience of the temporary diversion route by reducing the likelihood of closures due to flooding.”
Public exhibitions will be held in Arrochar’s The Three Villages Hall on Monday June 12, 12pm-7pm and Tuesday June 13, 10am-5pm and then in Lochgilphead Baptist Church Hall, Lochgilphead, on Wednesday June 14, 12pm7pm, and Thursday June 15, 10am-5pm.