Rest and Be Thankful problems will continue

I have been driving over the Rest and Be Thankful for 56 years and have a long and accurate memory. I have been a member for many years of the A83 Taskforce.

I have strenuously argued that the Rest landslide problem must be solved, to stop wasting money on ‘mitigation measures’ and find a permanent and safe solution to these endless landslides over the past 10 years.

Money has been wasted on widening, resurfacing and upgrading the Old Military Road with white lining, speed bumps and pedestrian posts on the lower stretch. It has been a total waste money as this option is presently unavailable.

As I have predicted at taskforce meetings, heavy landslides could and will take out both routes, particularly at the top end as the steepest and most dangerous slopes are where the Old Military Road is at its closest to the A83. The recent landslides prove this.

Transport Scotland (TS) commissioned a report to evaluate the options and provide and protect the A83 in Glen Croe, which is Argyll’s M8. The cheapest option was chosen to create a diversion route using the Old Military Road. Ever since TS has being trying to justify this flawed decision and has never accepted any other plan and then obstructed any sensible discussion about a permanent solution.

I suggested six years ago building a concrete structure on the line of the present diggings creating a 600m x 4m structure which could be easily blended into the hillside lessening any environmental impact. Installation of gates and permanent traffic lights could easily and quickly be activated whenever there are adverse weather warnings giving peace of mind to travellers.

I have constantly asked what the cost are of removing debris in the high nets in one-ton bags using helicopters, demolishing large boulders sometimes using explosives on this an already unstable hillside and the replacement of expensive security netting.

This was denied as ‘commercially sensitive’ information. I was fobbed off at a taskforce meeting of my tunnel suggestion as it would require a 1.2km tunnel and would cost £120 million and lead to long road closures during construction.

Transport Scotland’s design was wrong, visually obtrusive and used to inflate the cost to make it unviable.

Absolute nonsense.

The present holding pits have been excavated without disruption. A tunnel on this line would avoid digging down an extra eight metres, as they are doing at present, use precast concrete roof and side panels and then further strengthening if deemed necessary. This would save money and protect the A83.

With climate change, these slides will continue and perhaps be more severe so an urgent solution is required before there is a fatal incident.

I call on our political leaders and Transport Scotland to solve the Rest closures and urgently address this long-running problem and adopt a proper strategy. I hope our new Transport Minister brings a fresh and constructive view to the next taskforce meeting. Argyll demands a permanently protected A83.