£30m improvements for Rest and Be Thankful diversion route

04/01/2023 | CHRIS AMES

The Scottish Government is to make improvements costing up to £32m to the Old Military Road diversion route for the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful.

The work is designed to make the road more resilient as the Rest and be Thankful route awaits longer-term options ranging from traditional roads to a full tunnel.

Transport minister Jenny Gilruth said the improvements will mean more certainty for road users if the A83 is shut due to adverse weather conditions but that the Scottish Government ‘remains committed to a long-term solution to the landslip risks at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful'.

She added: ‘Transport Scotland appointed consultants at the end of the summer to develop an action plan that will deliver tangible action on the route. That work includes a consideration of traditional roads and localised structural protection, to full tunnel options. A final decision on the long-term solution will be confirmed by consultants by the Spring of 2023.

‘Meantime, consultants have now identified improvements to the existing Old Military Road (OMR) to create a more resilient diversion route through Glen Croe while the long-term solution is being developed.'

Vehicles using the Old Miltary Road under convoy. Picture: Bear Scotland

Transport Scotland said that of the ‘medium term’ options under consideration, improvements to the Old Military Road will also reduce journey times, are the quickest to implement and of lower cost, and would have the least impact overall.

A detailed programme for the proposed improvements will now be developed, including work on debris catch fences, temporary bunds, drainage improvements and widening and discrete realignment to improve bends and avoid flooding.

Transport Scotland said it expects these works will be carried out on a phased basis starting later this year and to provide further information on timescales and delivery at the next A83 Taskforce meeting in Argyll at the end of this month.

An assessment published by Transport Scotland puts the cost of the works at £24.3m-£31.9m at 2021 prices.

With the road only capable of carrying traffic in one direction at a time, it assesses the journey time as between 11.5 minutes and 22 minutes, depending on whether a vehicle has arrived just in time for the departure of a convoy or has missed it.

Since the announcement just before Christmas, the Old Military Road has been used as a diversion route on a number of occasions in response to forecasts of poor weather.

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

Technician - Maintenance

£31001.0000 - £36471.0000 per annum
Essex Highways is responsible for managing and maintaining one of the largest highway networks in the country
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Highways Contract Engineer

£46,731 - £49,764
The team helps provide a safe road network that operates efficiently and effectively.  Northamptonshire
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council

Principal Transport Planner

£46,731 - £49,764 (pro-rata)
We are looking for an experienced professional to join us on a six-month temporary contact as a Principal Transport Planner. Kettering, Northamptonshire
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council

Highways Maintenance Operative

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Highways Maintenance Operative Broughton, Brigg
Recruiter: Amey

Head of Highways Contracts & Network

£81,803 progressing to £90,664 per annum
The team includes approximately 60 directly employed HCC people Hertfordshire
Recruiter: Hertfordshire County Council

Principal Construction Manager

£Competitive
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Principal Construction Manager Yorkshire and the Humber
Recruiter: Amey

Quality Technician

£Competitive
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Quality Technician Yorkshire and the Humber
Recruiter: Amey

Senior Highway Engineer (Development Management)

£42679.0000 - £50211.0000 per annum
Senior Highway Engineer (Development Management)Permanent, Full Time£43,960 to £51,718 per annum*Location
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Project Manager (Major Projects)

£44,711 - £47,754
Are you an experienced project professional or engineer with looking to take the next step in your career? Halifax, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council

Senior Civil Engineer - Roads

£45,894 - £54,952
Are you an experienced engineer looking to support the Scottish Government’s national objectives. Scotland
Recruiter: Transport Scotland

Senior Civil Engineering Technician

Grade 7 £29,093 to £32,654 per annum
We are looking for a flexible individual who has the ability to meet targets and analyse and resolve complex technical problems and formulate a design Durham
Recruiter: Durham County Council

Project Team Manager

£55,147 to £60,676 per annum
We are pleased to be able to offer an opportunity for a role as Design Team Manager Norwich, Norfolk
Recruiter: Norfolk County Council

Clerk of Works

GRADE 08 (£37,938 - £41,511)
Warrington is one of the most successful towns in the country Warrington, Cheshire
Recruiter: Warrington Borough Council

Assistant Projects Engineer

GRADE 06 (£29,093 - £32,654),GRADE 07 (£33,366 - £37,035), GRADE 08 (£37,938 - £41,511)
Warrington is one of the most successful towns in the country Warrington, Cheshire
Recruiter: Warrington Borough Council

Principal Engineer - Traffic Management

£45,718 - £48,710 per annum
At Bath & North East Somerset Council we have one overriding purpose – to improve people’s lives. Bath, Somerset
Recruiter: Bath & North East Somerset Council

Vehicle Technician - Improver

£28,624 - £30,060
Transport Services is responsible for all aspects of transport and related services Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Kirklees Metropolitan Council

Part Time Caretaker and General Hand

Up to £25081.00 per annum + Full Time Equivalent
Part Time Caretaker and General HandPermanent, Part Time£25,081 Per Annum, Full Time Equivalent, equal to £13.00 per hourLocation
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Programme Delivery Office Administrator

Grade 9 £31,344 - £33,253 per annum
At Derbyshire, we have been on a journey to transform the way we deliver highway services to make them fit for the future Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Support Officer - Highways Asset Management Systems

£31,586 - £34,314
We are a forward-thinking organisation dedicated to maintaining and improving our highway infrastructure. Lincolnshire
Recruiter: Lincolnshire County Council

Principal Transport Planner (Strategy)

£46,731-£49,764
We are looking for an experienced professional to join North Northamptonshire Council as a Principal Transport Planner (Strategy). Sheerness House, 41 Meadow Road, Kettering moving to Haylock House, Kettering Parkway, Kettering NN15 6EY, United Kingdom
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council
SUBSCRIBE NOW

Latest Video

Subscribe to Highways today to ensure you keep your finger on the pulse of everything happening in the UK road network throughout the year.

SUBSCRIBE NOW