Boulders ‘as big as cars’ block Rest and Be Thankful
● Tonnes of boulders block road and usual diversion route
Boulders the size of cars are among 6,000 tonnes of debris that blocked the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful along with the road used as the area’s usual diversion.
A 59-mile diversion route has been put in place after heavy rains caused the landslip on Tuesday. Politicians called on the Scottish Government to take action to prevent the recurring landslips.
Boulders the size of cars are among 6,000 tonnes of debris that slid down a hillside and blocked the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful along with the area’s usual diversion route, a road management organisation has said.
Landslips once again hit the road amid heavy rainfall on Tuesday, closing it in both directions, along with the Old Military Road, which has previously been used as an alternative route when the main road is impassable. A 59-mile diversion route has been put in place.
Politicians called on the Scottish Government to take action to prevent the recurring landslips.
Road management and maintenance organisation Bear Scotland said initial clear-up operations have started after geotechnical specialists carried out safety inspections at first light yesterday.
Roadside assessments on Tuesday had indicated it was unsafe to attempt to clear the road or carry out further investigations due to the risk of further landslips. Bear Scotland said 6,000 tonnes of debris crashed down the hill from 200 metres above the road as up to 100mm of rain fell in the region.
The heavy rain created a “fan effect” down multiple water channels, some of which reached the roadside. About 1,500 tonnes of debris is thought to have reached the A83, with about 2,000 tonnes washing down on to the Old Military Road. Car-sized boulders were brought down the hillside on to the carriageway.
One of the landslip mitigation catch pits recently installed to prevent debris reaching the road, caught about 2,000 tonnes from one of the channels carved into the hillside. The slope is being inspected to assess the risk of further boulder falls.
Eddie Ross, Bear Scotland’s north-west representative, said: “Heavy rain caused a large landslip high above the road which reached the A83 and OMR roadside at multiple points, bringing significant amounts of debris.
“Our teams have mobilised at both ends of the A83 at the Rest and OMR and have begun the initial clear-up of the debris.
“Further assessments need to be completed by geotechnical specialists of the hillside and both roads to check for any further concerns, and until these checks and the clear-up is complete, the A83 and OMR will remain closed.”
Argyll and Bute Council leader Aileen Morton has written to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon calling for action.
Ms Morton said: “This is now the second landslide of the year that has closed the Rest and Be Thankful and resulted in disruption to a major trunk road causing havoc for our communities.”