THE Transport Minister has announced a major investment of government funds into securing a long-term solution for the Rest and Be Thankful road.
The A83, known as the Rest and Be Thankful, forms a vital transport link for Argyll communities and businesses, with around 1.3 million vehicles passing through it every year.
But due to its vulnerability to landslides from the hillside above, the road has been subject to protracted roadworks, with travel times regularly being hit by long delays.
Now Transport Scotland has announced its intention to appoint Atkins WSP Joint Venture to progress design and development work for a long-term solution – which looks to be a route through Glen Croe.
The new £25m Government investment will be used to design, promote and construct the potential solutions.
Why does the Rest and Be Thankful need a "solution"?
In 2020, the road was closed for a total of 200 days, requiring cars to be ferried along a single-track military road to bypass works.
Between 2007 and the beginning of this year, the Scottish Government had spent £87 million on the entirety of the A83 - with another £1.3m being awarded to an engineering firm in January to undertake preliminary ground investigations for a new stretch of road.
READ MORE: Rest and Be Thankful: Drones could be used to plant trees at Scotland's 'most infamous road'
Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth stressed the need for an “urgent solution” to the road which she hopes will “bring certainty to the lives of those directly impacted when the A83 is cut off”.
She added: “This investment from Scottish Government represents a significant milestone because it will allow the vital design work needed to commence at pace.
“Ministers share the urgency communities and businesses place on maintaining and improving connectivity of this vital route, which is why we are progressing measures for the short, medium and long term in tandem.
“We will bring forward proposals for the medium term by the end of this year, with an announcement on the preferred route option for the long term by spring 2023.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel