Question reference: S6W-08243
- Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 28 April 2022
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Current status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 12 May 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action will be taken to maintain a diversion route from the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful once the upgrade of the A82 between Tarbert and Inverarnan commences.
Answer
Since the significant landslides that occurred in August and September 2020, contractors have installed various landslide mitigation measures including drainage improvements, debris fences, a catch pit and material barriers to improve the resilience of the A83 and the Old Military Road diversion route. The mitigation has been augmented by the construction of a 175m long, 6m high debris bund, which further protects the Old Military Road.
In addition to this contractors have enhanced operational procedures for managing the A83 corridor including how we monitor hillside conditions during periods of bad weather. So far, the protection afforded by these measures has meant that the A83 and the Old Military Road local diversion have been able to remain in operation for all but eight occasions during 2021 and 2022 to date, meaning traffic did not have to use the longer diversion via Inveraray and Crianlarich. The effectiveness of these measures will continue to be reviewed and improved where possible. As part of the Access to Argyll and Bute (A83) project we are also progressing plans for a medium term resilient route through Glen Croe and we will bring forward proposals for this by late 2022.