A83 Rest And Be Thankful | Boulder Removal
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A83 To Reopen Following Successful Boulder Works
The A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful will reopen at 2:30pm today following the successful operation to make a boulder safe on the hillside.
The Old Military Road was used on Monday to allow a helicopter to ferry equipment onto the hillside, and the road between Ardgarten and the viewpoint car park was fully closed from 6am on Tuesday 28 October to allow specialists to tackle a large boulder causing concern on the hillside.
Euan Scott, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative said: “Our teams acted quickly after concerns about a boulder above the A83 trunk road were identified. Safety is always our top priority, and our proactive decision to address this boulder ahead of winter reduces the risk to road users.
“Thanks to the expertise and commitment of our teams and contractors, we have been able to re-open the A83 to traffic quickly and safely.”
Real time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland A83 Rest and Be Thankful and X @trafficscotland. Ferry options are also available, check www.western-ferries.co.uk.
Find more information on the traffic management process at the Rest and Be Thankful here.
Clarification: During the full closure on Tuesday and Wednesday, hard closure points will be in place from the Rest and Be Thankful viewpoint carpark and west of Ardgarten on the A83. Local access will be permitted up to these points from Inveraray and Tarbet.
BEAR Scotland, working on behalf of Transport Scotland, are set to carry out boulder removal works on the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful. Works will commence on Monday 27 October, with the aim being to remove the boulder at first light on Tuesday 28 October.
A geotechnical investigation has identified a boulder on the hillside that should be removed to ensure the ongoing safe operation of the A83 trunk road.
Traffic using the A83 on Monday 27 October will be diverted onto the Old Military Road at 6am, adding approximately 20 minutes to journey times. This is to allow a safe working area to be set up.
Work to remove the boulder will commence at first light on Tuesday 28 October. Given the complex nature of the works, and inherent safety risks, the A83 between Tarbet and Inverary will be fully closed to protect the public from 6am on Tuesday 28 October. Unfortunately, amnesties or use of the Old Military Road will not be possible therefore traffic will be diverted onto the long diversion route via the A83, A82, A85 and A819. Western Ferries are an option from Gourock to Dunoon.
Upon successful removal of the boulder, a hillside inspection on the morning of Wednesday 29 October will inform a decision to return traffic to the Old Military Road or A83 trunk road.
Euan Scott, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative said, “We regret the inconvenience these works will cause.
“We do appreciate the impact use of the long diversion has on businesses, public transport and local people and it is always the last resort. Unfortunately, the complexity of these works means that traffic will need to be diverted onto the long diversion route.
“However, the works are required to ensure the ongoing safety of road users and cannot be delayed through the winter period. Every effort will be made to complete the works and reopen the road as quickly as possible.”
How to get the latest travel and traffic information
For full information on roadworks on trunk roads in the north-west and south-east of Scotland, visit the Bear Scotland website.
You can report a defect on the network by filling out this form.
Follow Bear Scotland on X at @bear_scotland and at @SETrunkRoads.