Improvements to the Old Military Road are to be made until a long-term solution to the challenges at the Rest and Be Thankful is in place.
The Rest and Be Thankful section of the A83 has been plagued with controversy as landslides and debris flow hazards have increased in recent years.
Yesterday, members of the Taskforce – including politicians, representatives of Argyll and Bute council, community councils and business organisations – were updated on the medium-term solution set-up along the existing Old Military Road (OMR).
Transport Minister Fiona Hyslop chaired the meeting which was held in Lochgilphead.
The Taskforce meeting revealed that work is being done to progress plans to increase the resilience of the temporary diversion route along the Old Military Road.
And that if the A83 is forced to close due to adverse weather, conditions of the diversion route along the OMR will be improved.
When the A83 has to shut, businesses relying on it are affected by the loss of traffic which often has to funnel onto the single-track Old Military Road along the valley floor.
‘Committed to delivering a long-term solution’
Members of the Taskforce were also given an update on the recent public engagement for the permanent, long-term solution to the challenges at the Rest and Be Thankful, following the announcement of the preferred route option in June and the end of the consultation period at the end of July.
Ms Hyslop added: “There is a clear need for pace and urgency on delivering improvements to the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful for the communities and businesses who often feel the brunt of closure and the associated impacts that creates.
“The announcement in June of the preferred route option for the long-term solution was a significant confirmation of our commitment to improve the route.”
During the four days of public exhibitions, 220 people went along to see the plans.
More than 3,500 people had viewed the online exhibition by the time it closed on July 28.
Work will begin later this year to realign the southern end of the route.
Ahead of this, ground investigations were carried out to help determine the conditions of the terrain along the section of the Old Military Road.