Motorists have been facing huge delays today as a digger is being recovered from an embankment.
The A82 Fort William and Inverness road has been partially blocked after the JCB heavy-track excavator fell from a lorry transporting heavy plant machinery.
Temporary traffic lights have been installed on the stretch of road between Spean Bridge and Fort William, letting some motorists through intermittently.
Recovery teams attended the scene at about 9.30am to start the process of removing the vehicle from the side of the road.
A JCB digger could be seen in the ditch, with numerous members of the recovery team seen standing in front of it, preparing to move it.
The road is blocked as the vehicle is being recovered, with traffic management being put in place and vehicles being allowed to drive through at a slow pace.
It has caused huge queues for most of the morning and the beginning of the afternoon.
Some motorists complained of being stuck for upwards of an hour and not moving for a substantial period of time.
One said they had “not moved for 30 minutes” while another described the road as “completely blocked” and “at a standstill.”
❗UPDATE⌚10.35#A82 RTC#A82 is partially blocked in both directions between Fort William and Spean Bridge for recovery of an RTC
Traffic Management is in place
Traffic is queuing in both directions on approach#ExpectDelays #DriveSafe @NWTrunkRoads pic.twitter.com/TebzZ9EYBc
— Traffic Scotland (@trafficscotland) October 1, 2020
The incident took place about eight miles north of Fort William, with the traffic tailing back to Spean Bridge when congestion was at its worse.
Motorists have been informed that they could expect delays until late into the afternoon while the recovery team do their job.
Drivers who do not want to wait in the queue of traffic have the option of taking a diversion to bypass the A82.