Rest and Be Thankful: Putting in the groundwork for long-term solution

Ground investigations for the long-term solution for the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful are expected to get underway next month.

Transport Scotland said it intends to appoint Structural Soils Ltd to a £5.5m contract, subject to the conclusion of a standstill period, with works expecting to last approximately 16 weeks, ‘weather permitting’.

Cabinet secretary for transport Fiona Hyslop said: ‘The Scottish Government remains committed to delivering a long-term solution to the landslip risks at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful.

‘The design work for this is being progressed at pace with a view to publishing draft orders by the end of this year. The ground investigations to begin next month will provide essential information to inform design development of the preferred route option.

‘At the same time, we are progressing our plans to increase the resilience of the temporary diversion route along the Old Military Road. The first phase of the work to realign the southern end of the route, reducing the risk of flooding, commenced construction in December and the new link road is now complete.’

She added: ‘The ground investigations to inform future phases of the Medium Term Solution are already underway and we will then look to start further construction works later this year, subject to obtaining the necessary consents.

‘When completed, the work on the Old Military Road will increase the resilience of the temporary diversion route by reducing the likelihood of landslides impacting it. These improvements will mean more certainty for locals and road users if the A83 has to shut due to adverse weather conditions.’