THE Rest and Be Thankful will be shut as a “safety precaution” due to a forecast of heavy rain.
Officials have confirmed that the A83, known for being vulnerable to landslides, will be shut from 7pm on Monday due to weather concerns – with maintenance bosses signalling there could be more closures to come.
The single-track military road which lies just beneath the A83 will act as a diversionary route, operating a convoy system for motorists.
Road maintenance firm Bear Scotland has said a meeting will take place on Tuesday to decide if the stretch can be reopened.
The firm further warned that extended use of the convoy system on the Old Military Road could be required over the coming week as more heavy rain is forecast.
Bear Scotland added that works are ongoing to bolster the landslide mitigation measures on the roadside.
Eddie Ross, Bear Scotland’s north west representative said: “We’re putting road user safety first and diverting all traffic to use the Old Military Road from 7pm as a safety precaution due to tonight’s weather forecast of heavy rain showers.
“A band of heavy rain is expected to impact the area from this afternoon, becoming heavy by mid-afternoon and continuing through the rest of the day and overnight into Tuesday morning.
“We have teams closely monitoring conditions in the area as well as the hillside above the A83, and we’ll assess the situation tomorrow morning with a view to re-opening the trunk road as quickly as possible if conditions permit and it is safe to do so.
“As ever, we thank all road users and the local community for It comes as campaigners continue to appeal for a permanent solution for the crucial Highlands artery.”
The A83 acts as a vital transport link for Argyll communities and businesses with around 1.3 million passing through it every year.
However, the road has been plagued with protracted roadworks to mitigate danger from landslides which has regularly caused delays and closures in the last decade.
The road was closed for a total of 200 days in 2020 alone.
Back in August, Scottish Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth announced a new £25m Government investment package to design, promote and construct potential solutions for the road.
At the time of the announcement, she stressed the need for an “urgent solution” to the road to “bring certainty to the lives of those directly impacted when the A83 is cut off”.
Argyll and Bute Council has called for a permanent solution for the road to be implemented within the lifecycle of the current Scottish Parliament.
