Project set to begin from Sunday 4 July for two weeks

A surfacing project covering five locations on the A85 is set to begin on Sunday and will take up to two weeks to complete.

The planned works will address five sections of the A85 between Dalmally and Connel, creating a smoother road surface and improving safety for road users.

The overnight improvements are programmed to begin on Sunday 4 July and are expected to take up to two weeks to complete, subject to weather conditions. The carriageway resurfacing works will take place between 8pm and 5am with no work planned on Friday or Saturday nights.

To help ensure the project can take place safely at each location, a series of restrictions including overnight road closures will be in place when the work is taking place.  Access for emergency services will be maintained at all times. The schedule of work is as follows:

• A85 east of Achnachloich – Sunday 4 July to Monday 5 July (two nights)

A 10mph convoy system will be in place between 8pm and 5am each night.

• A85 east of Connel – Tuesday 6 July to Sunday 11 July (four nights, excluding Friday and Saturday)

A road closure will be in place between 8pm and 5am each night. Amnesty periods will be in place at 9pm, 10pm, midnight, 2am and 4am to allow any waiting traffic to be safely convoyed through the area.  Motorists are encouraged to arrive in advance of these times to ensure they can be accommodated by the convoys.

• A85 Achnacloich Railway Bridge – Monday 12 July (one night)

A road closure will be in place between 8pm and 5am. A signed diversion route will be in place via the A82 and A828, adding 60 miles / 90 minutes to the journey for road users travelling between Connel and Tyndrum.

• A85 Airds Bay – Tuesday 13 July to Wednesday 14 July

A road closure will be in place between 8pm and 5am each night. Amnesty periods will be in place at 9pm, 10pm, midnight, 2am and 4am to allow any waiting traffic to safely convoy through the area.  Motorists are encouraged to arrive in advance of these times to ensure they can be accommodated.

• A85 Cruachan Dam – Thursday 15 July (one night)

A road closure will be in place between 8pm and 5am. Amnesty periods will be in place at 9pm, 10pm, midnight, 2am and 4am to allow any waiting traffic to safely convoy through the area.  Motorists are encouraged to arrive in advance of these times to ensure they can be accommodated.

At each site, traffic management will be reduced out with working hours, however a temporary 30mph speed limit will remain in place, as traffic will be travelling over a temporary surface.

Strict physical distancing protocols, in line with Scottish Government Covid-19 guidance, will be in force to protect teams and ensure they remain safe at all times.

Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s Representative for the North West, said: “This programme of surfacing work for the A85 will help address any defects in the road surface at five locations, creating a safer and smoother journey for road users.

“For safety, we need to close the road overnight at four locations however we’ve taken steps to minimise disruption as much as possible by scheduling the work to avoid Friday and Saturday nights and by arranging amnesty periods where possible.

“Our teams will do everything they can to limit disruption and will complete the work as quickly and safely as they can.  We advise all road users to plan their journeys in advance by checking Traffic Scotland for up to date journey information.”

Real-time journey planning information can be obtained by visiting www.trafficscotland.org or twitter @trafficscotland.