A NOTORIOUS road plagued by landslides has been closed on average one day per week over the past four years, we can reveal.
The A83 Rest and Be Thankful near Arrochar, Argyll and Bute, is a key route, linking the region with the Central Belt and the rest of Scotland.
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But in recent years, it has been shut hundreds of times due to tonnes of falling debris from the nearby hillside and costly maintenance works.
Between January 2020 and October 18 this year, the troubled stretch of tarmac has been off limits on 540 occasions – 222 days and 318 nights – amounting to 270 full days of closures.
This works out at one day of diverted traffic per week over the period.
Scottish Tory MSP Tim Eagle said: “The constant closure of this key road is causing misery for motorists.
“The SNP have squandered millions in relation to the Rest and Be Thankful but have failed to deliver a permanent solution.
“That is what residents and businesses are crying out for, to ensure the A83 is fully accessible all year round.”
In 2020, during the Covid pandemic, the Rest and Be Thankful was closed for a third of the year.
And it was shut to road users for 31 days between the beginning of this year and October 18.
It recently emerged that the SNP government has spent £16 million on consultants in the past four years in an eye-watering bid to find a solution to the disruptive landslides.
The regular closures have also led to costly diversions through the nearby Old Military Road.
The landowner of the single-track route has been paid £2.3million from the Scottish Government since 2012.
Landslides triggered by torrential rain and flooding in the area have posed a serious threat to life.
Last year, ten people were airlifted to safety after their vehicles became trapped in mud and rock.
On some occasions, drivers have also faced lengthy reroutes via the A82, A85 and A819 – adding an extra 50 miles onto journeys.
The frequent closures since the beginning of 2020 are a staggering rise compared to the previous five years.
Between January 2015 and December 2019, the Rest and Be Thankful was closed for just over 11 days – equivalent to around two days per year.
Earlier this year, Transport Scotland revealed plans for a £470m tunnel-style debris flow shelter.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We share the urgency communities and businesses place on maintaining and improving connectivity of this vital route, which is why we are progressing measures for the short, medium and long term in tandem.
“The design work for delivering a long-term solution to the landslip risks at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful is being progressed at pace with a view to publishing draft Orders by the end of this year.
“At the same time, we are progressing our plans to increase the resilience of the temporary diversion route along the Old Military Road. When completed, this work will increase the resilience of the temporary diversion route by reducing the likelihood of landslides impacting it.
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“These improvements will mean more certainty for locals and road users if the A83 has to shut due to adverse weather conditions and reduce the use of the alternative longer diversion route, via Crianlarich. Reaching agreement for the use of the Old Military Road provides a suitable short-term solution.
“All of this underlines our commitment to work with local communities and key stakeholders to ensure that Argyll & Bute remains open for business.”
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