Brown witnesses A83 landslide recovery work

Scottish Transport Minister Keith Brown has taken a look at the ongoing recovery work that is taking place to get the A83 fully operational again.

This follows a recent landslide in the Rest and Be Thankful area. Continuing poor weather conditions since the slip have severely hampered work by the crew of geotechnical engineers and specialist subcontractors who need to access the hillside and assess the risks of loose material and make safe any boulders. With improving conditions and specialist plant now airlifted into place, Brown (pictured) was able to see for himself from the air the challenges faced by the hillside crew to stabilise the area.

Speaking at Glen Croe where the recovery team are based, he said: “The recent landslide here at the Rest has posed another significant challenge not just for the team here working to ensure access through Argyll continues, but for local communities who need that access. Specialist plant has been dropped into place by helicopter throughout some very poor weather conditions, allowing stabilisation work of the slope to get under way. Having taken a flight in the team’s helicopter, I’ve seen for myself the difficulties faced to conclude that work and the scale and size of the challenge faced are clearer from the air than from the road in the valley below. With nearly three quarters of the work completed the team are making good headway to get to a position which will allow the A83 to be deemed safe to be opened again. Everything is being done with that goal in mind and to ensure Argyll stays open for business.

“With the hillside unable to be monitored in darkness, and the risk considered unacceptable to road users and their safety, it has again been agreed by BEAR, Police Scotland and Transport Scotland that the A83 will remain closed for the time being.”