Boulder Removal Works Planned for A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful

BEAR Scotland, on behalf of Transport Scotland, will begin essential boulder removal works on the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful later this month.

Operations are scheduled to start on Monday, 27 October, with the boulder expected to be removed at first light on Tuesday, 28 October.

A recent geotechnical inspection identified a large boulder on the hillside above the route that requires removal to maintain the long-term safety and stability of the trunk road.

To allow the team to safely establish a working zone, traffic will be diverted onto the Old Military Road from 6am on Monday, 27 October. Drivers should allow for around 20 minutes of additional travel time while this diversion is in place.

Work to remove the boulder will begin the following morning. Due to the complex and high-risk nature of the operation, the A83 will be fully closed between the Rest and Be Thankful viewpoint car park and the area west of Ardgarten from 6am on Tuesday, 28 October.

During this period, no amnesties or access to the Old Military Road will be possible. All traffic will therefore follow the long diversion route via the A83, A82, A85, and A819. Motorists may also consider using Western Ferries between Gourock and Dunoon as an alternative crossing option.

Following the successful completion of the removal, a hillside inspection will be carried out on the morning of Wednesday, 29 October to determine whether traffic can return to either the Old Military Road or the main A83 route.

Euan Scott, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative, acknowledged the disruption the works may cause:

“We regret the inconvenience these works will cause. We do appreciate the impact use of the long diversion has on businesses, public transport, and local people, and it is always the last resort. Unfortunately, the complexity of these works means that traffic will need to be diverted onto the long diversion route.“However, the works are required to ensure the ongoing safety of road users and cannot be delayed through the winter period. Every effort will be made to complete the works and reopen the road as quickly as possible.”