A83 | Clean up underway after landslides

Heavy, persistent rainfall in the early hours of Monday 1 September has caused several landslides along the A83, with the worst-affected areas being at Butterbridge and Glen Kinglas. The area saw approximately 76mm of rain fall over a five hour period.

Eleven landslips have been observed on the hillsides adjacent to the trunk road over a 3km stretch, with two depositing debris directly onto the carriageway, blocking the road, and a third contained within a roadside barrier. To protect the public, BEAR Scotland, on behalf of Transport Scotland, has closed the road between Ardgartan and the A815 Dunoon road end.

Clean up operations are well underway to clear the material off the road, and to remove debris from ditches and culverts. Further intense rainfall is forecast for late afternoon and it is expected that the road will remain closed until Tuesday 2 September when further inspections will take place.

Diversions are currently in place via the A819/A85/A82. Western Ferries services between Gourock and Dunoon also remain available with four boats operating.

Euan Scott, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative, said: “The scale of the operation to clear the A83 is considerable, but our teams are working hard with partners to reopen the road as soon as it is safe to do so.

“With further heavy rain expected, our priority is to continue geo-technical inspections of the affected hillsides and to clear material to allow the road to reopen. We thank local residents and road users for their patience while this work takes place.”