My Week 9th – 15th December

Brendan O’Hara MP

6 days ago

This is the most recent update from BEAR Scotland on efforts to assess the damage at Rest and Be Thankful after yesterday's heavy rain.

Initial clear-up operations are now underway after a large landslide blocked the A83 and Old Military Road (OMR) at multiple locations yesterday.

"Geotechnical specialists have been on site since first light this morning to carry out initial safety inspections of the area and to begin assessing the damage caused by the slips. BEAR Operations teams have mobilised with specialist machinery at both ends of both the A83 and OMR to begin work to clear the debris.

A large landslip around 200m above the carriageway occurred on Tuesday after up to 100mm of rain fell in Argyll, creating a ‘fan effect’ down multiple water channels some of which reached the roadside.

Approximately 1,500 tonnes of debris is thought to have reached the A83, with around 2,000 tonnes of material washed onto the Old Military Road. In total, the landslide is thought to have moved around 6,000 tonnes of debris across the hill.

One of the landslip mitigation catch-pits, built to prevent landslip material reaching the road, caught around 2,000 tonnes of debris material from one of the channels affected by the landslip.

Large car-sized boulders have also been brought down the hillside onto the carriageway, and further safety inspections of the slope are taking place to assess the area for any other potential boulders which were impacted by the landslip and heavy rain.

All traffic is currently being diverted via the standard diversion route via the A83, A82, A85 and A819. The diversion route is being patrolled and monitored to check for any issues and ensure traffic is kept moving. Temporary traffic lights are currently in place on the A82 at Inveruglas after yesterday’s heavy rain affected a retaining wall, causing some damage to the road. Traffic Scotland are also providing additional advanced warning signs for road users to inform them of the closure at the Rest and Be Thankful so motorists can plan an alternative route in advance.

Western Ferries have also added additional sailings on their usual Gourock to Dunoon route to help accommodate motorists.

Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative said: “Yesterday’s exceptionally heavy rain caused a large landslip high above the road which reached the A83 and OMR roadside at multiple points, bringing significant amounts of debris.

“Our teams have mobilised at both ends of the A83 at the Rest and OMR and have begun the initial clear-up of the debris.

“Further assessments need to be completed by geotechnical specialists of the hillside and both roads to check for any further concerns, and until these checks and the clear-up is complete the A83 and OMR will remain closed.

“In the meantime, Argyll remains open for business and we encourage road users to follow the diversion route in place for motorists. Western Ferries are also running additional sailings for their Gourock to Dunoon crossing to accommodate road users.

“Please check Traffic Scotland for most up to date travel information.”

Real-time journey information is available on www.traffiscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland or the mobile site my.trafficscotland.org. ... See MoreSee Less

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