Setback for boulder demolition
IT has perched precariously over the Rest and Be Thankful for days – causing havoc for drivers.
And despite being loaded with explosives, inserted into 30 drilled holes, a 150-ton boulder perched above the A83 is still causing problems.
The planned demolition got off to a bad start yesterday when fog meant specialist teams had to delay the detonation.
Finally, at 4.30pm, the boulder, discovered in the aftermath of Storm Frank after a landslip brought about 200-300 tons of debris crashing down onto the carriageway, was blown up.
But despite days of planning, a large section of rock, about one third of the size of the original boulder, remained on the hillside.
And as darkness fell last night the main route to Argyll remained closed.
Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s North West representative, said last night: ‘Despite the poor weather conditions the low cloud lifted just in time for teams to carry out the blast on the rock this afternoon.
‘The boulder is now broken apart. However one large section remains which requires a full assessment, and the Old Military Road will be closed overnight again as a precaution.’
He continued: ‘We will continue the work to assess the slope tomorrow and will resume at first light.
‘The continued patience of the public is very much appreciated by our team and we will continue to do all we can to get the A83 open as quickly and safely as possible.’
The road, a main route for people travelling to Argyll and the Kintyre peninsula, is prone to landslips and has been closed many times over the years.
In October 2007, it took engineers more than two weeks to clear more than 400 tons of debris and reopen the road to traffic.