The clean-up after bad weather in Argyll continued yesterday with the reopening of a lifeline route which had been closed due to landslides.
Motorists were able to drive on the Rest and Be Thankful on the A83 Tarbet to Campbeltown after it reopened at 7.30am yesterday.
The road was first shut last Tuesday due to dangerous conditions with some cars allowed through on Sunday.
Road contractors will continue monitoring the landslide-prone site this week because of forecasts for further bad weather.
A spokesman for Bear Scotland, the roads maintenance firm, said: “Monitoring of the hillside and weather conditions will continue and traffic will be transferred back to the Old Military Road if there is any detection of movement, or should any adverse weather raise concern.
“Prevailing weather conditions and good progress made on-site have enabled the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful to remain open to motorists overnight.
“Currently there is a short section under traffic control at the location where the landslide occurred. This is to allow works to install the replacement netting that was damaged during the landslide.”
Mike Story, chairman of the A83 Marketing Group, said: “Our thanks go to the Bear team perched a thousand feet plus up on the Rest in the most atrocious weather and zero visibility. They have gone beyond their duty to remedy the situation.”
Transport Scotland’s head of network maintenance, Graham Edmond said: “It’s been a very challenging week for all concerned – local residents, businesses and not least those working round the clock to get the road reopened in very testing conditions.
“Moving forward, we will continue to seek further realistic solutions, building on the near £8million already invested around the Rest and Be Thankful. Our landslide mitigation work at Glen Kinglas continues, with the aim of having the first stage of the work completed in advance of next summer. We look forward to discussing progress at the next A83 Taskforce meeting next month.”
Meanwhile a single track road in another part of Argyll was still closed.
The C29 at Loch Avich, near Kilmelford, was closed on Sunday afternoon following a slippage of boulders, stones, trees and other debris due to heavy rain.
A spokeswoman for Argyll and Bute Council said last night: “Our two man crew have been working to clear 50 plus tonnes of debris since 10am this morning. The road remains closed and works will continue tomorrow.”