Thursday 24 February – 9.20am
Given the heavy snow forecast today, convoy control operations on the A83 will continue through today and overnight. Journey times through the site are expected to be 5 to 6 minutes.
A further update will be provided tomorrow if there are any changes beyond those described above.
For more information on how the daily decision-making is reached check the following link:-
A83 Rest and Be Thankful – Managing Trunk Road Operation | BEAR Scotland
Teams continue to have a presence on site and are monitoring the weather and hillside conditions closely.
Real time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland and the mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.
Wednesday 23 February – 9am
Given the heavy rain forecast today, traffic will continue to operate on the Old Military Road local diversion route this morning and afternoon. Journey times through the site are expected to be up to 20 minutes. A further update will follow this afternoon following a review of weather and hillside conditions.
For more information on how the daily decision-making is reached check the following link:-
A83 Rest and Be Thankful – Managing Trunk Road Operation | BEAR Scotland
Our teams continue to have a presence on site and are monitoring the weather and hillside conditions closely.
Real time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland and the mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.
Monday 21 February – 9.35AM
Given the drier conditions today traffic will operate on the A83 at the Rest and be Thankful under convoy control. Journey times through the site are expected to be 5 to 6 minutes. From 7pm tonight, due to high hillside saturation levels and heavy rain forecast overnight, traffic will be moved onto the Old Military Road local diversion route for the overnight period. Journey time through the site should be in the order of up to 20 minutes.
Teams continue to have a presence on site and are monitoring the weather and hillside conditions closely.
For more information on how the daily decision-making is reached check the following link:-
A83 Rest and Be Thankful – Managing Trunk Road Operation | BEAR Scotland
Real time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland and the mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.
Friday 18 February – 12.15PM
The Old Military Road (OMR) local diversion route to the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful is to be used by all traffic from 7pm Saturday evening as a result of the forecast weather.
Following storm Eunice, heavy rainfall is expected in the area over Saturday night and Sunday, which will induce snow melt on the hillside and increase ground saturation levels. The Old Military Road will therefore be utilised as a precautionary measure until the weather conditions improve and traffic can be safely returned to the A83. Road users should therefore anticipate the local diversion route being in operation from 7pm on Saturday until Monday morning.
Our teams continue to have a presence on site and are monitoring the weather and hillside conditions closely.
The A83 is currently operating under a convoy system which will remain in place throughout today (Friday) and overnight into Saturday.
Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s North West representative said: “We’ve been assessing the weather forecast over the next few days and have taken the decision along with Transport Scotland to direct all traffic to use the Old Military Road from 7pm on Saturday evening as a safety precaution.
“Sunday’s forecast has indicated heavy rain throughout the day, and given the current high saturation levels experienced on the hillside, we’re continuing to put road user safety first.
“Road users should therefore anticipate the OMR being utilised from 7pm on Saturday evening until Monday morning when a hillside inspection will take place to determine if it is safe to return traffic to the A83.
“Teams are continuing to pay close attention to the weather conditions in the area and are monitoring the hillside for any changes.
“As ever, we thank all road users and the local community for their patience in advance while we continue to manage the situation at the Rest and Be Thankful.”
Real time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland and the mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.
Wednesday 16 February – 11.30AM
Road users of the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful will continue to be convoyed along the Old Military Road (OMR) local diversion route throughout today and overnight into Thursday morning given the high level of saturation currently being experienced by the hillside and the further heavy rainfall forecast in the area.
The weather experienced in recent days has increased the level of saturation on the hillside and with further heavy rain expected to continue, the Old Military Road will remain in operation until Thursday morning when conditions are forecast to improve for a time.
A safety inspection will take place on Thursday morning to assess if safe to reopen the A83 to all road users under convoy control.
The Met Office has issued amber and yellow warnings for wind on Wednesday and Thursday, and with further wet weather forecast over the weekend, further use of the Old Military Road should be anticipated by road users at times.
Teams will be closely monitoring conditions in the area as well as observing the hillside to inform operational decision making for the A83 and OMR, and to ensure road users are kept safe.
Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative said: “We are witnessing very high flows in the hillside watercourses this morning and with high ground saturation being experienced as a result of recent rainfall, we’ve taken the decision along with Transport Scotland, to maintain traffic on the Old Military Road throughout today and overnight tonight as a safety precaution.
“We have teams closely monitoring conditions in the area as well as the hillside above the A83, and we’ll assess the situation tomorrow morning with a view to re-opening the trunk road as quickly as possible if conditions permit.
“Looking ahead, we’re expecting further periods of heavy rain and snow to move through the area over the latter part of the week, and our teams will remain on high alert to respond to any changes at the Rest.
“As ever, we thank the local community and all road users for their patience while we continue with our work at the Rest.”
Real time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland and the mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.
To help explain the current management of the A83 at the Rest and be Thankful the BEAR Scotland website has recently been enhanced with a dedicated page https://www.bearscot.com/nw/a83-rest-and-be-thankful-managing-trunk-road-operation/
Monday 14 February – 1.40PM
The A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful reopened to road users this morning following completion of a safety assessment.
The A83 reopened at around 9.15am under convoy control, following the Old Military Road local diversion route being used as a safety precaution from Saturday night when periods of heavy rainfall continued to pass through the region.
The A83 will remain operational during the daytime today. However, with further rainfall expected to pass through overnight, traffic will be switched to the Old Military Road local diversion route from 6pm this evening. Assessments of the weather and hillside conditions will take place on Tuesday morning to determine if it is safe to re-open the A83 during daylight hours under convoy.
Further wet weather is expected throughout the week and teams will be closely monitoring conditions in the area as well as observing the hillside to inform operational decision making for the A83 and OMR, and to ensure road users are kept safe.
The Met Office has named two storms, Storm Dudley and Storm Eunice, which are expected to bring high winds and adverse weather conditions across Scotland from 3pm on Wednesday 16 February until 9pm Friday 18 February.
Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative, said: “We reopened the A83 this morning following an early morning assessment of the hillside and water channels at the Rest, along with a review of the weather forecast.
“With the heavy persistent periods of rain experienced in recent days and ongoing snow melt, hillside saturation is becoming a greater factor in our decision making and with further rain expected overnight, we’ve made the decision to switch traffic to the OMR from 6pm this evening.
“Looking ahead, we’re expecting further adverse weather to move through the area during the remainder of the week due to Storm Dudley and Storm Eunice, and our teams will remain on high alert to respond to any changes at the Rest.
“Given the forecast for the coming days, the need for further use of the Old Military Road is likely to be required, but we will do everything we can to minimise journey time delay and will look to maintain traffic on the A83 for as long as it is safe to do so.
“As ever we thank the local community and all road users for their continued patience while we continue with our work at the Rest.”
Real time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland and the mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.
To help explain the current management of the A83 at the Rest and be Thankful the BEAR Scotland website has recently been enhanced with a dedicated page https://www.bearscot.com/nw/a83-rest-and-be-thankful-managing-trunk-road-operation/
Saturday 12 February – 9AM
The A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful reopened to road users this morning following a safety assessment from teams on site.
The A83 reopened at around 8.40am under convoy control, following the use of the Old Military Road local diversion route as a safety precaution on Friday night when periods of heavy rainfall continued to pass through the region.
The A83 will remain operational during the daytime today. However, with further heavy and persistent rainfall expected to continue throughout today (Saturday), traffic will be switched to the Old Military Road local diversion route from 8pm this evening. Assessments of the weather and hillside conditions will take place on Sunday morning to determine if it is safe to re-open the A83 under convoy operation.
Teams will continue to closely monitor conditions in the area as well as observing the hillside to inform operational decision making for the A83 and OMR, and to ensure road users are kept safe.
Real time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland and the mobile site my.trafficscotland.org
To help explain the current management of the A83 at the Rest and be Thankful the BEAR Scotland website has recently been enhanced with a dedicated page https://www.bearscot.com/nw/a83-rest-and-be-thankful-managing-trunk-road-operation/
Friday 11 February – 12.45PM
Road users of the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful will be directed to use the Old Military Road (OMR) local diversion route when travelling through Glen Croe on Friday night as a result of the heavy rain forecast in the region.
Traffic will be convoyed along the single-track local diversion route, from 8pm this evening, with rain forecasted to continue through the night and into Saturday.
Convoy operation has been in operation as a precautionary measure given the heavy rain and high winds experienced over recent days and with hillside saturation levels increasing and further heavy rain forecast over the weekend period, the decision has been taken to divert traffic to the Old Military Road overnight as a safety precaution.
A safety inspection will take place on Saturday morning to assess if safe to reopen the A83 to all road users during the daytime under convoy control. However, with further heavy rain expected over the weekend, further use of the Old Military Road should be anticipated until weather conditions improve, particularly at night.
Construction work continues on strengthening the landslide mitigation measures in the area, with construction of a new roadside debris catch-pit currently ongoing.
On Sunday 13 February, a closure of the A83 at Arrochar is required by Scottish Water to allow emergency repairs to be undertaken to a chamber located within the carriageway. The closure will be in place between 9pm on Sunday night and 6am on Monday morning, with a signed diversion being put in place for through traffic via the A82, A85, A819. The A83 will remain open on each side of the closure for local access, and emergency vehicles will be permitted to pass through the worksite at all times.
Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s North West representative said: “We’re putting road user safety first and diverting all traffic to use the Old Military Road from 8pm this evening as a safety precaution due to forecast heavy rainfall overnight and increasing saturation levels on the hillside.
“We have teams closely monitoring conditions in the area as well as the hillside above the A83, and we’ll assess the situation on Saturday morning with a view to re-opening the trunk road under convoy operation.
“However, with heavy rainfall expected throughout much of the weekend, it is likely that further use of the OMR will be required, particularly at night, and the local diversion route will be retained in a state of readiness during this period.
“As ever, we thank all road users and the local community for their patience in advance while we continue with our work to address the Rest and Be Thankful.
”Road users are asked to plan their journey’s utilising the most up to date travel advice available from Traffic Scotland”
Real time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland and the mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.
To help explain the current management of the A83 at the Rest and be Thankful the BEAR Scotland website has recently been enhanced with a dedicated page https://www.bearscot.com/nw/a83-rest-and-be-thankful-managing-trunk-road-operation/
Wednesday 27 October – 10.10AM
The A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful is to reopen at 12 noon this afternoon under convoy operation.
Motorists were diverted to use the Old Military Road local diversion route at 8pm last night as a safety precaution due to the heavy periods of rain that were forecast in the area overnight. All traffic was convoyed overnight along the single-track road which runs parallel to the A83 through the centre of Glen Croe.
The A83 will remain open overnight under a convoy operation due to improved weather conditions in the area, however teams will continue to monitor the weather forecast and conditions on the hillside. The Old Military Road will remain on standby should conditions require use of the local diversion route.
Construction work continues on strengthening the landslide mitigation measures in the area, with focus being placed on the construction of a further debris catch-pit.
Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative said: “The A83 will reopen under convoy operation at mid-day today following safety assessments of the hillside at the Rest, and a review of the weather forecast.
“Weather conditions in the area are forecast to ease throughout today and the A83 will remain open overnight under a convoy operation. Our teams will be keeping a close eye on conditions, with teams ready to implement the OMR local diversion route should conditions begin to worsen in the area.
“As ever we thank the local community and all road users for their continued patience while we continue with our work at the Rest.”
Real-time journey information is available form Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland or the new mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.
Tuesday 26 October – 10.45AM
The A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful is to reopen under convoy operation at 12 noon this afternoon.
Heavy rain overnight prompted the closure of the road as a safety precaution, with all traffic diverted via the Old Military Road (OMR) local diversion route, which runs parallel to the A83 through Glen Croe, while teams carefully monitored the hillside.
Overnight operation of the Old Military Road will then resume from 8pm as a safety precaution given the persistent rainfall forecast for the region.
A geotechnical assessment will be undertaken tomorrow morning (Wednesday) to determine if the A83 can safely reopen.
Further heavy rain is forecast in the coming days and teams will continue to carefully monitor the hillside and assess the route on a daily basis to determine whether it is safe to remain in operation.
Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative said; “The A83 will reopen under convoy operation at mid-day today following a thorough safety assessment by our geotechnical team and easing of the weather.
“It is difficult for us to monitor the hillside and any sudden changes in conditions during the hours of darkness, particularly after several days of heavy rain, so we’re continuing to put the safety of motorists first and will close the A83 as a precaution overnight and utilise the OMR local diversion instead.
“We’ll review the situation tomorrow morning and carry out further assessments to determine if we can reopen the A83 as before during the daytime.
“Further heavy rain is forecast in the coming days and we’ll be closely monitoring the weather conditions and the hillside at the Rest.
Real-time journey information is available form Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland or the new mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.
Monday 25 October – 12.15AM
The A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful reopened to road users this morning following a safety assessment from teams on site.
The A83 reopened at around 8.40am under convoy control, following the use of the Old Military Road local diversion route as a safety precaution on Sunday night when periods of heavy rainfall continued to pass through the region.
The A83 will remain operational during the daytime today. However, with further heavy and persistent rainfall expected to commence overnight and continuing throughout Tuesday, traffic will be switched to the Old Military Road local diversion route from 8pm this evening. Assessments of the weather and hillside conditions will take place on Tuesday morning to determine if it is safe to re-open the A83 during daylight hours under convoy.
Further wet weather is expected throughout the week and teams will be closely monitoring conditions in the area as well as observing the hillside to inform operational decision making for the A83 and OMR, and to ensure road users are kept safe.
Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative, said: “We reopened the A83 following an early morning assessment of the hillside and water channels at the Rest, along with a review of the weather forecast.
“With the heavy periods of rain experienced in recent days, hillside saturation is becoming a greater factor in our decision making and with further heavy rain expected overnight and throughout Tuesday, we’ve made the decision to switch traffic to the OMR from 8pm this evening.
“Looking ahead, we’re expecting further persistent rain to move through the area during the remainder of the week, and our teams will remain on high alert to respond to any changes at the Rest.
“Given the forecast for the coming days, the need for further use of the Old Military Road is likely to be required, but we will do everything we can to minimise journey time delay and will look to maintain traffic on the A83 for as long as it is safe to do so.
“As ever we thank the local community and all road users for their continued patience while we continue with our work at the Rest.”
Real time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland and the mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.
Sunday 24 October – 10AM
Friday 22 October – 1.25PM
Road users at the Rest and Be Thankful will be diverted to use the Old Military Road (OMR) local diversion road when travelling through Glen Croe from Saturday evening as a safety precaution due to expected persistent heavy rain in the area.
Wet weather is forecast to arrive in the region from late afternoon on Saturday and is expected to be at its most intense overnight into Sunday morning.
With up to 60mm of rain possible over the weekend, and the increase in hillside saturation that will occur as a result, the decision has been taken to switch traffic from the A83 to the Old Military Road at 7pm on Saturday evening as a safety precaution, with traffic being convoyed along the local diversion route through Glen Croe.
A safety inspection will take place on Sunday morning to assess if it is safe to resume convoy operation on the A83 during the daytime.
Teams remain on site and will be monitoring the weather and any changes in hillside condition on a daily basis to inform operational decision making, with the wet weather forecast to continue into next week.
Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative said: “The weather forecast for the weekend indicates that persistent heavy rainfall will occur from late on Saturday afternoon until Sunday morning.
“Saturation levels on the hill will increase with the forecast rain, and we have taken the proactive decision with Transport Scotland to close the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful from 7pm on Saturday as part of our safety first approach, with all traffic diverted via the Old Military Road through the glen.
“We will conduct a safety inspection on Sunday morning to assess if it is safe for us to reopen the A83 for road users, and we will have teams constantly monitoring the hillside and weather conditions in the area such that the route remains safe for road users.
“As ever we’re doing everything we can to manage the ongoing situation at the Rest.”
“Argyll remains open for business and we advise road users to plan ahead by checking Traffic Scotland for the latest travel information.”
Real-time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland or the mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.
Wednesday 20 October – 11.45AM
The A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful reopened shortly after 8am this morning following an early morning safety inspection, with all traffic now using the trunk road under traffic light control.
Motorists were diverted to use the Old Military Road local diversion route from 7pm last night as a safety precaution due to the forecast heavy rainfall in the area. All traffic was convoyed overnight along the single-track road which runs parallel to the A83 through the centre of Glen Croe.
A drier period is now forecast until the weekend and it is anticipated that operation of the A83 will be maintained under traffic signal control in the coming days subject to weather and hillside conditions.
Teams continue to monitor conditions in the area and will remain on standby ready to implement convoy operations on the A83 or Old Military Road diversion route should conditions require it.
Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative, said: “We’ve been closely monitoring the weather in conjunction with hillside conditions over the past 24 hours, and following an inspection this morning we have re-opened the A83 under traffic signal control.
“A drier spell of weather is now expected through to the end of the working week but further heavy rain is expected over the weekend, and we are reviewing conditions daily to inform decision making.
“As ever safety is our number one priority, and we thank the local community and all road users for their continued patience while we continue to manage the situation at the Rest.”
Real time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland and the mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.
Tuesday 19 October 2021 – 11.20AM
Road users of the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful will be directed to use the Old Military Road (OMR) local diversion route when travelling through Glen Croe from Tuesday evening given the heavy rain that continues to fall in the area.
Traffic will be convoyed along the single track local diversion route, from 7pm this evening, with rain forecasted to continue through the night into Wednesday.
Convoy operation of the A83 was implemented at 9pm on Monday night in anticipation of the persistent heavy rainfall being experienced, and with hillside saturation levels increasing the decision has been taken to divert traffic to the Old Military Road as a safety precaution.
A safety inspection will take place on Wednesday morning to assess if safe to reopen the A83 to all road users during the daytime as before however, further wet weather is expected over the course of the week and teams will be closely monitoring conditions on site.
Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative said: “We’ve taken the decision along with Transport Scotland to direct all traffic to use the Old Military Road from Tuesday evening as a safety precaution given the persistent rainfall being experienced, and a safety inspection on Wednesday morning will determine if safe for us to reopen the A83 for road users.
“Looking ahead, we’re expecting further heavy rain to move through the area over the remainder of the week, and our teams will remain on high alert.
“As ever, we thank the local community and all road users for their patience while we continue to manage the situation at the Rest.”
Real time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland and the mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.
Friday 8 October 2021 – 2PM
The A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful reopened shortly after 8.45am this morning following an early morning safety inspection, with all traffic now using the trunk road under convoy operation.
Motorists were diverted to use the Old Military Road local diversion route at 3.30pm yesterday afternoon as a safety precaution given the heavy rain experienced throughout the day and overnight into Friday morning.
Further rain showers are expected on Friday and over the weekend, and teams remain onsite monitoring conditions in the area. It is anticipated that the A83 will remain in operation throughout the coming days based on the forecast weather however, the Old Military Road will remain on standby should conditions require use of the local diversion route.
Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative, said: “We reopened the A83 this morning following an early morning assessment of the hillside at the Rest, and a review of the most up to date weather forecast.
“Safety remains our top priority, and with further rain expected throughout Friday and over the weekend we will be keeping a close eye on conditions, with our site teams monitoring the situation closely and providing the capability to switch traffic from the A83 to the OMR local diversion should this become necessary.
“As ever we thank the local community and all road users for their continued patience while we continue with our work at the Rest.”
Real time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland and the mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.
Thursday 7 October – 13.15PM
The Old Military Road (OMR) local diversion route adjacent to the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful is to be used for all traffic from 3.30pm this afternoon (Thursday) ahead of heavy rain forecast across the area.
The OMR, a single-track road through the centre of Glen Croe, will be utilised throughout the afternoon and overnight with all traffic being managed on the OMR under convoy operation as a safety precaution due to forecast heavy rain throughout the area.
Met Office yellow warnings have been issued for heavy rain across western Scotland today until 12noon on Saturday. Intense persistent rainfall is expected to impact Argyll throughout this afternoon and overnight with up to 50mm of rain predicted in 24 hours.
The A83 is currently under convoy operation and this will remain in place until 3.30pm this afternoon before all traffic is switched to use the OMR. An assessment will take place on Friday at 8.00am to determine if it is safe to reopen the A83.
Construction work continues on strengthening the landslide mitigation measures in the area, including development of further debris catch-pits.
Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s North West representative said: “We’re putting road user safety first and diverting all traffic to use the Old Military Road from 3.30pm as a safety precaution due to tonight’s weather forecast of heavy rain showers.
“A band of heavy rain is expected to impact the area from this afternoon, with persistent rainfall expected throughout the night and into Friday morning.
“We have teams closely monitoring conditions in the area as well as the hillside above the A83, and we’ll assess the situation tomorrow morning with a view to re-opening the trunk road as quickly as possible if conditions permit and it is safe to do so.
“As ever, we thank all road users and the local community for their patience in advance while we continue with our work to address the Rest and Be Thankful.”
Real time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland and the mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.
Thursday 5 August – 8.15AM
The A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful reopened shortly after 7.30am this morning following an early morning safety inspection, with all traffic now using the trunk road under traffic light control.
Motorists were diverted to use the Old Military Road local diversion route from 8pm last night as a safety precaution due to heavy rain showers which were forecast to move in across the area overnight. All traffic was convoyed overnight along the single-track road which runs parallel to the A83 through the centre of Glen Croe.
Further rain showers are expected overnight and throughout Friday, and teams remain onsite monitoring conditions in the area. The A83 will remain in operation however teams will remain on standby ready to implement the Old Military Road diversion route should conditions in the area deteriorate.
A yellow Met Office warning for thunderstorms has been issued across central and southern Scotland from 10am on Friday until 9am on Saturday, which extends to parts of Argyll.
Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative, said: “We reopened the A83 this morning following an early morning assessment of the hillside and water channels at the Rest, along with a review of the weather forecast.
“Safety remains our top priority, and with further showers expected to move in overnight and throughout Friday we will be keeping a close eye on conditions, with teams ready to implement the OMR local diversion route should conditions begin to worsen in the area.
“As ever we thank the local community and all road users for their continued patience while we continue with our work at the Rest.”
Real time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland and the mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.
Wednesday 4 August – 12.35PM
The Old Military Road local diversion route at the Rest and Be Thankful is set to be in use for all road users tonight (Wednesday) from 8pm as a safety precaution ahead of a band of heavy rain moving in across the area.
The OMR, a single-track road through the centre of Glen Croe, will be utilised throughout the night with all traffic being managed under convoy operation.
A band of heavy rain is expected to impact the area from early evening, with heavy bursts expected throughout the night and into Thursday morning.
A morning safety inspection will take place on Thursday at 7am to determine if it is safe to reopen the A83 as before.
Further wet weather is expected throughout the week into the weekend and teams will be closely monitoring conditions in the area as well as observing the hillside. The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for thunderstorms which covers central and southern Scotland from 10am on Friday until 9am on Saturday, including parts of Argyll.
Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative said: “We’re putting road user safety first and diverting all traffic to use the Old Military Road overnight tonight from 8pm as a safety precaution due to tonight’s weather forecast of heavy rain showers.
“We have teams closely monitoring conditions in the area as well as the hillside above the A83, and we’ll assess the situation tomorrow morning with a view to re-opening the trunk road as quickly as possible if conditions permit.
“Looking ahead, we’re expecting further heavy rain to move through the area during the remainder of the week and over the weekend, and our teams will remain on high alert to respond to any changes at the Rest.
“Given the forecast for the coming days, the need for further use of the Old Military Road is possible, but we will do everything we can to minimise journey time delay and will look to maintain traffic on the A83 for as long as it is safe to do so.
“As ever, we thank the local community and all road users for their patience while we continue with our work at the Rest.”
Real time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland and the mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.
Wednesday 28 July – 9.10AM
The A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful has reopened under traffic light control this morning with all traffic being convoyed along the route.
The route was closed as a precaution yesterday evening at 8pm ahead of heavy rain forecast for the area overnight, with all traffic diverted to use the Old Military Road local diversion which runs parallel to the A83 through the centre of Glen Croe.
Safety inspections of the hillside took place this morning along with a review of the weather forecast for the area, following which a decision was made to divert all road users back on to the A83 as before.
As a precaution, traffic will be convoyed along the route throughout the morning, and the road will switch to normal traffic light operation this afternoon if weather conditions are noted to have further improved.
A Met Office yellow warning for rain remains in place which covers parts of Argyll until 6am on Thursday morning. Teams remain on site monitoring weather conditions and observing the hillside.
Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative said: “We’ve been closely monitoring the weather conditions overnight and this morning, and after a safety inspection of the area this morning we were content to divert all road users back onto the A83.
“As a safety precaution we are convoying road users along the A83 in single file throughout the morning, with the intention being to switch to normal traffic light operation this afternoon.
“Safety of all road users remains our number one priority and we’re keeping a close eye on the weather forecast and monitoring conditions in the area to note any changes.
“As ever, we thank all road users and the local community for their patience while we continue with our work at the Rest and Be Thankful.”
Real time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland and the mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.
Tuesday 27 July – 11.00AM
The Old Military Road (OMR) local diversion route to the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful is to be used for all traffic from 8pm tonight (Tuesday) ahead of heavy rain forecast across the area.
The OMR, a single-track road which runs parallel to the A83 through the centre of Glen Croe, will be used overnight with all traffic being convoyed along the route throughout the night as a safety precaution due to forecast heavy rain throughout the area.
Met Office yellow warnings have been issued for thunderstorms and rain across most of mainland Scotland today until 6am on Thursday morning. Heavy showers are expected to impact Argyll throughout the evening and Wednesday morning.
From noon today, the A83 will operate under convoy operation and this will remain in place until 8pm this evening before all traffic is switched to use the OMR. An assessment will take place at around 12 noon on Wednesday to determine if it is safe to reopen the A83 as before.
Construction work continues on strengthening the landslide mitigation measures in the area, including development of further debris catch-pits and improvements to hillside drainage.
Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s North West representative said: “We’ve been assessing the weather forecast over the next few days and have taken the decision along with Transport Scotland to direct all traffic to use the Old Military Road from 8pm tonight as a safety precaution.
“Tonight’s forecast has indicated heavy rain throughout the night which is difficult to monitor the impact of on the hillside during the hours of darkness, with further heavy rain expected tomorrow morning. We’re continuing to put road user safety first and will therefore reinstate the OMR from 8pm as a precaution.
“We’ll assess the area tomorrow lunchtime once the weather front has passed and determine if it is safe to reopen the A83 as before.
“Teams are continuing to pay close attention to the weather conditions in the area and are monitoring the hillside for any changes.
“As ever, we thank all road users and the local community for their patience in advance while we continue with our work to address the Rest and Be Thankful.”
Real time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland and the mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.
Thursday 17 June – 1.20PM
Teams are gearing up for a four-night programme of surfacing work across two sections of the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful starting from Sunday night.
The project will address a total length of 300 metres of the route, ensuring the road surface is strengthened and improved for road users. The work is programmed to take place from Sunday 20 June for four nights, 7pm to 7am each night.
To allow the surfacing work to take place safely, the Old Military Road will be in use each night, with all motorists directed to use the local diversion which runs parallel to the A83 from 7pm to 7am..
Traffic will be convoyed single-file on the Old Military Road to maintain a route through Glen Croe each night while the surfacing work takes place on the A83.
The A83 will remain open under traffic light control during the daytime for all road users.
Teams are continuing to progress an ongoing programme of mitigation measures at the Rest and Be Thankful, including construction of a debris catch-pit adjacent to the A83. Daily monitoring of hillside conditions and the weather forecast continues to inform decision making such that the route is operated safely.
Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative said: “From Sunday night we’re carrying out a four-night programme of surfacing work on the A83 at the Rest which will strengthen some sections of the carriageway, improving it for all road users.
“As we’ll be working in the centre of the road we need to close the A83 overnight for safety, however we’re minimising disruption as much as possible by directing all road users to use the Old Military Road overnight so they can still pass through the glen safely.
“Our teams will do everything they can to ensure the overnight surfacing work is completed as quickly and safely as possible so we limit any disruption caused by this essential work.
“Teams are making good progress with the ongoing mitigation work at the Rest and we continue to monitor both the hillside and the weather conditions on a daily basis to ensure the route remains safe for road users.
“We thank the local community and all road users for their continued patience while we continue with our work at the Rest.”
Real-time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland or the new mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.
Friday 4 June – 2.30PM
Temporary traffic lights are now in place 24 hours a day at the Rest and Be Thankful improving journey times for road users using the A83 during the evening and overnight periods.
A continuous use of the traffic lights removes the need for an overnight convoy system, which was in place to safely escort motorists past the work area during the hours of darkness. Good progress with mitigation measures, in conjunction with reasonable hillside conditions and seasonal settled weather, has meant that the convoy system is no longer required and has enabled the use of traffic lights day and night.
The new arrangements will help create more reliable journey times for motorists travelling along the A83 at night and will reduce any waiting times that might be experienced during this period. Monitoring of the weather and hillside conditions does continue on a daily basis however and is being used to inform operational decision making, with the safety of road users and operatives being paramount.
Later this month four nights of surfacing work is planned for two sections of the A83 totalling over 300 metres at the Rest and Be Thankful to ensure it continues to remain safe for motorists. The work will take place each night between 7pm and 7am, starting Sunday 20 June.
To allow the work to take place safely, all road users will be directed to use the Old Military Road local diversion route overnight from Sunday 20 June for four nights to enable teams to safely resurface the A83. The A83 will reopen during the daytime meaning disruption will be kept to a minimum.
Teams are making good progress with an ongoing programme of mitigation work on the hillside at the Rest, including construction of a new catch-pit.
One lane of the A83 remains closed and the traffic lights are being utilised to manage road users through the area safely given the presence of heavy machinery and equipment that is required to facilitate construction operations on the hillside. This lane closure will remain in place throughout most of 2021 until the planned mitigation works are complete.
Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative said: “The recent good weather conditions have allowed us to make good progress with our ongoing programme of mitigation work in the area.
“The better weather, coupled with reasonable conditions on the hillside, has also allowed us to safely move to 24-hour traffic light operation, meaning the overnight convoy system is no longer required to escort motorists through the work area during the hours of darkness. This will hopefully lead to quicker journey times through the area at night for road users and reduce any queueing traffic during this period.
“To ensure the route remains safe we need to carry out four nights of surfacing work on the A83 itself later this month, meaning that we need to close the road and direct all motorists to use the OMR. This is programmed from Sunday 20 June, 7pm to 7am, and all road users will be convoyed along the OMR during working hours. The A83 will remain open as normal during the day and teams will do all they can to complete the surfacing work quickly and safely.
“As ever, we thank all road users and the local community for their continued patience while we continue with the programme of mitigation work at the Rest.”
-0Real-time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland or the new mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.
Friday 30 April – 2.30PM
Engineering work to develop mitigation measures at the Rest and Be Thankful has been continuing throughout April with teams working above and below the A83.
A recent prolonged dry spell of weather has allowed teams to make good progress on a new debris catch-pit at the roadside, repairs to hillside debris fences, and other measures to support landslip resilience above and below the A83 trunk road.
The A83 remains open 24-hours a day with traffic lights helping to safely filter traffic past the ongoing construction work in the area during daylight hours. Convoying of traffic on the A83 continues during the evening and overnight period for safety reasons.
From Monday night next week wet weather is currently forecast to move in across the west coast of Scotland, with potential for spells of heavy rain at the Rest and Be Thankful. Teams will be closely monitoring weather conditions in the area as well as the impact on the hillside. The Old Military Road local diversion route will remain on standby, ready to be implemented as a safe alternative route through Glen Croe should conditions worsen in the area, particularly overnight.
Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative said: “The recent favourable weather at the Rest has allowed us to make good progress with the ongoing construction of the debris catch-pits and strengthening the debris fences above the road.
“The A83 is currently operating well, with traffic signal control in place during daylight hours and alternate single lane convoy being implemented during the evening and overnight periods for safety reasons, with no reported issues and minimal waiting times for motorists.
“With the possible heavy rain forecast to move in from Monday night we’ll be paying close attention to the weather in the area and any impact it may have on the hillside. The Old Military Road remains on standby ready to be utilised should conditions in the area deteriorate, meaning we can switch traffic to the alternative route quickly to minimise any disruption to journey times.
“Throughout the bank holiday weekend traffic will be monitored by our site team with traffic signals manually operated to minimise journey time delays as much as possible.
“As ever we’re working on a safety first approach and will only operate the A83 if we’re certain it is safe for us to do so.
“We thank all road users and the local community for their continued patience while we do everything we can to progress with the ongoing mitigation measures at the Rest.”
Real-time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland or the mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.
Wednesday 14 April – 3.00PM
A temporary traffic light system is set to replace the current convoy operations on the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful during daylight hours from Friday to help reduce motorist waiting times when passing through the area.
One lane of the A83 has been open under convoy operation during the daytime when weather conditions allow since 8 January, with an escort vehicle safely managing traffic past the steep channel formed by landslips last year. The A83 switched to 24-hour convoy operation earlier this week following a successful week-long trial.
The traffic lights will allow waiting vehicles to pass along the A83 quicker during daytime hours rather than being required to wait for an escort under the convoy system, which will mean reduced journey times through Glen Croe. The convoy system will remain in place for night-time road operation given the challenges of monitoring hillside conditions during the hours of darkness.
It is hoped that switching to daytime use of traffic signals ahead of travel restrictions easing across Scotland will help minimise disruption to road users on this section of the A83.
A convoy system will remain an option for A83 operation but will only be considered where weather or hillside conditions require a greater level of control of trunk road traffic passing through the glen. The Old Military Road local diversion route, a single-track road which runs parallel to the A83 through the centre of Glen Croe, will also remain on standby ready to be used as a safety precaution should weather conditions deteriorate in the area or changes are observed on the hillside.
Teams will continue to monitor the hillside for any changes in conditions.
Work continues to develop further landslip mitigation measures in the area, including the construction of a roadside debris catch-pit and strengthening of debris fences on the hillside above the A83.
One lane of the A83 remains closed for the safety of the general public and operatives working on these measures, as well as to allow access for heavy machinery and equipment used in construction. This lane closure will remain in place throughout most of 2021 until this work is complete.
Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative said: “Switching to traffic light operation on the A83 at the Rest will help to reduce motorist waiting times, meaning less disruption to journeys into Argyll.
“With travel restrictions easing across the country later this week we’re expecting an increase in traffic across the road network, so hopefully this change in operation will help reduce any impact to journey times while still ensuring we are keeping people safe when travelling through Glen Croe.
“Teams have made good progress in strengthening the mitigation measures above and below the A83, which has allowed us to move to 24-hour operation of one lane of the A83 safely.
“We’re continuing to operate a safety-first approach and will only keep the A83 in operation if we are absolutely content that it is safe to do so. The OMR will remain on standby ready to be used as an alternative route through the glen should weather conditions deteriorate.
“As Scotland begins to open up again we want to encourage all motorists to play their part by planning any journeys in advance and checking Traffic Scotland for up to date journey information, taking any litter home with them and ensuring to park only in designated parking areas rather than on verges or clearways. This way we can all ensure we can enjoy visiting and travelling in Argyll and the rest of Scotland safely.
“As ever we thank the local community and road users for their patience while we progress with the ongoing work at the Rest and be Thankful.”
Real-time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland or the mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.
Monday 12 April – 1.45PM
The A83 trunk road at the Rest and Be Thankful is to remain in operation 24-hours a day when weather and hillside conditions permit following a successful week-long trial.
All traffic will continue to be safely convoyed along the A83 all day and all night while teams continue to develop and construct further mitigation measures on the hillside.
The trial last week allowed teams to optimise the management processes required to safely operate the A83 overnight, whilst also ensuring that monitoring processes remain effective to identify any developing concerns on the hillside. The Old Military Road was implemented as a precaution on Thursday night due to increased heavy rain showers moving through the area, and the switch from A83 to the local Old Military Road diversion through the glen was made with minimal disruption to road users.
The OMR will remain on standby ready to be as used an alternative route through Glen Croe should conditions take a turn for the worse in the area.
Engineers continue with work to develop mitigation measures above and below the A83 at the Rest, including construction of a roadside debris catch-pit and strengthening of debris fences on the hillside above the road.
Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative said: “After reviewing our processes and monitoring techniques for keeping the A83 operational 24-hours a day, we’re content to keep the route open continuously under convoy operation when weather conditions allow.
“This will allow more reliable journey times for road users and help to minimise disruption while we continue with work to strengthen landslip mitigation measures in place at the Rest.
“We will continue to work on a safety-first approach and will keep the OMR on standby as a safety precaution ready to be utilised should weather conditions deteriorate in the area.
“As ever, we thank all road users and the local community for their continued patience while we continue with our ongoing work at the Rest.”
Real-time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland or the mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.
Friday 8 April – 2.45PM
A trial involving the operation of the A83 trunk road 24-hours a day at the Rest and Be Thankful resumed this morning following an overnight suspension implemented in response to an intense period of heavy rainfall experienced in the area yesterday afternoon.
Teams on site had been monitoring the wet weather conditions throughout Thursday, however the Old Military Road was implemented for all road users at around 5pm as a safety precaution after heavy rain brought in by high winds increased through the afternoon period.
A safety inspection took place at first light this morning (Friday), with the A83 reopened for all road users at around 7.30am.
The trial 24-hour operation of the A83 has now resumed and teams will continue to monitor the hillside and weather conditions as before over the course of the weekend.
The A83 trial is expected to run until Monday and will allow teams to identify any issues which need to be addressed before the A83 can open under convoy operation on a longer-term basis when weather conditions allow.
Heavy rain is forecast to move in late on Sunday night, and the Old Military Road will be kept on standby should it be required as a local diversion route.
Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative said: “Yesterday afternoon we took the decision to switch all traffic to the Old Military Road as a safety precaution as the weather conditions worsened in the area.
“As the OMR was already on stand-by, disruption to motorists was minimal and we were able to switch traffic to the local diversion through Glen Croe quickly and safely.
“This morning we carefully inspected the water channels and hillside following the wet conditions yesterday and were content to reopen the A83 as before.
“We’re now looking to continue with the 24-hour operation of the A83 trial as before, however we will keep the Old Military Road on standby ahead of further wet weather forecast from Sunday night.
“We’re continuing to work on a safety-first approach, and we will only operate the A83 for motorists if we are content that it is safe to do so.
“As ever we thank all road users and the local community for their patience while we continue with the ongoing mitigation work at the Rest.”
Real-time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland or the mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.
Wednesday 7 April – 12.50PM
A trial to inform 24-hour operation of the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful has been extended until the start of next week to cover a period of unsettled weather.
The trial is being conducted to identify any issues associated with operating the A83 at all hours of the day when weather conditions allow, and will inform operational processes for the road moving forward.
The weather forecast for tomorrow (Thursday) is expected to bring persistent rain, which will commence in the early hours of the morning and continue through to early evening. The extension of the trial will allow teams to ensure monitoring practices and convoy operations can be optimised during more inclement weather overnight.
The trial, which began on Monday, has been progressing well with motorists using the A83 continuously under single lane convoy.
The Old Military Road (OMR) local diversion route which runs parallel to the A83 will continue to remain on standby as a safety precaution.
Work continues to strengthen the mitigation measures in the area, including development of a new debris catch-pit adjacent to the trunk road.
Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative said: “The trial 24-hour operation of the A83 has been successful so far and has allowed us to maintain use of the trunk road during a period of reasonable weather.
“We’re now turning towards the next stage that will involve running the A83 during slightly more adverse weather conditions overnight, with this allowing us to further optimise our monitoring practices and control measures for overnight convoy operation on the trunk road.
“Road user safety remains our top priority and we will only keep the A83 open if we are content that it is safe to do so. The Old Military Road will remain on standby as a precaution, ready to be implemented if required.
“This trial allows us to identify and address any issues before we commit to opening the route on a longer-term basis for road users. While we’re hopeful we’ll be in a position to open the A83 continuously soon, we need to underline that if there are particularly adverse conditions or a weather warning issued for the area that could impact the hillside then we will look to use the OMR as before.
“Teams have been working 24/7 on the mitigation measures in the area, including enhancing the debris fences and creating a new debris catch-pit, with such features strengthening landslip resilience and providing greater protection to road users.
“As ever we thank road users and the local community for their patience while we do everything we can to address the ongoing issues at the Rest.”
Real-time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland or the mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.
Monday 5 April – 10.50AM
The A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful is to undergo a trial of 24-hour operation over the next two days to consider if the route can remain open safely overnight on a long-term basis.
Starting today (Monday), all traffic will remain on the A83 overnight with teams carefully monitoring the hillside and weather conditions in the area.
The two-day trial will allow teams to deploy convoy operation on the A83 overnight such that any issues can be identified and addressed in the planning for longer term night-time use of the trunk road.
The Old Military Road will remain on standby as a local diversion route throughout the two-day trial, with teams ready to implement use of the route should weather conditions deteriorate in the area.
Teams have been working 24/7 on a programme of mitigation measures above and below the A83 to enhance landslip resilience in the area. This work includes installing a new debris fence across the steep channel formed by landslips last year, strengthening of existing debris fences on the route and enhancing the drainage in the area to control and manage any excess water flows.
The A83 has been open during the daytime when weather conditions have allowed since 8 January, with motorists using the OMR as a local diversion route overnight as a safety precaution.
Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative, said: “The two-day trial of running the A83 24-hours a day will allow us to identify any issues associated with operating the route at all hours for road users, and will enable us to optimise the convoy operation, shift patterns and overnight monitoring practices for the coming period.
“The Old Military Road local diversion route through the centre of the glen will remain on standby and we’ll have teams ready to implement the route quickly should conditions in the area or on the hillside begin to change.
“While we’re hopeful we can safely move to 24-hour operation of the A83, we must underline that if there is wet weather forecast or a weather warning – particularly overnight – which we think could impact the hillside then we will look to use the OMR as before. Road user safety remains of paramount importance and we will only operate the A83 if we are content that it is safe to do so.
“Teams have been working 24/7 on the mitigation measures in the area, including strengthening the debris fences and creating a new debris catch-pit, with such features strengthening landslip resilience and providing greater protection to road users.
“As ever we thank road users and the local community for their patience while we do everything we can to address the ongoing issues at the Rest.”
Real-time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland or the mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.
Tuesday 30 March – 11.50AM
The A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful has reopened this morning to all road users following a safety inspection and improved weather forecast for the Glen Croe area.
The trunk road was closed as a safety precaution since Saturday night due to a band of heavy rain moving in across the west coast of Scotland throughout the weekend and early part of the week. Around 120mm of rain was recorded as falling in the area throughout the period.
A yellow Met Office warning for heavy rain in Argyll has since been stood down and reduced to cover an area further north, with less rain anticipated than forecast for the coming days.
All traffic was directed to use the Old Military Road which runs parallel to the A83 through Glen Croe as a safety precaution during the weather front.
Due to increased daylight hours, the A83 will remain open during the daytime from 7.15am to 8pm each day starting tomorrow (Wednesday), with traffic being safely convoyed along the route when weather conditions allow.
All traffic will continue to be directed to use the single-track Old Military Road overnight, which adds approximately 10 to 15 minutes onto journey times in the area at night-time.
Teams remain onsite monitoring conditions and any changes to the hillside. Work continues with the ongoing programme of mitigation work in the area to strengthen resilience measures against landslips at the Rest.
Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative, said: “After a close review of the weather forecast and a thorough review of the hillside, water channels and slope beneath the road we were content to safely reopen the A83 to all road users this morning at around 7.15am.
“The forecast shows an improving picture and we’ll continue to have teams on site to monitor conditions in the area.
“Now that the clocks have gone forward we intend to run the A83 between 7.15am and 8pm each day, starting tomorrow (Wednesday), with traffic being safely convoyed through the area. Tonight we will switch traffic to the OMR at 6.30pm this evening due to the recent heavy rain in the area and further showers expected early evening.
“As a safety precaution the OMR will be used overnight for all road users, with traffic being convoyed through the single track road for safety.
“As ever we will continue to operate on a safety-first approach and we thank all road users and the local community for their patience while we progress with the ongoing mitigation work to strengthen resilience against landslips in the area.”
Real-time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland or the mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.
Tuesday 30 March – 8.30am
Friday 26 March – 12.05pm
Road users at the Rest and Be Thankful will be diverted to use the Old Military Road (OMR) local road when travelling through Glen Croe from Sunday morning as a safety precaution due to a heavy rain front moving in.
Wet weather is forecast for the weekend and early next week which is due to intensify from Sunday morning bringing high levels of rainfall across the Rest until Tuesday. A Met Office warning for heavy rain has been issued which covers the Rest and Be Thankful area from 6pm on Sunday to 6pm on Tuesday, with up to 120mm of rain expected in the area.
Traffic will be convoyed through the single-track OMR local diversion through the centre of Glen Croe from Sunday morning until the weather front passes. A safety inspection will take place on Wednesday morning to assess if safe to reopen the A83 to all road users during the daytime as before.
Teams will remain onsite monitoring conditions throughout the weather front to check it remains safe for road users to travel through the area.
It is planned that the A83 will be open to all road users between 7.15am and 6.30pm on Saturday although this will be subject to continual review. Teams will be on standby to utilise the OMR if conditions in the area deteriorate.
Teams continue to develop a programme of mitigation measures on the hillside following major landslips in August and September last year. Work includes strengthening the debris fences on the route as well as construction of a new catch-pit at the bottom of the steep channel formed by landslips last year.
Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative said: “Sunday morning particularly sees a weather front moving slowly across the west of Scotland which is expected to bring extremely heavy rainfall for a few days and up to 120mm of rain on saturated ground.
“We’ve taken the decision along with Transport Scotland to direct all traffic to use the Old Military Road from Sunday morning as a safety precaution until the weather front moves on, with a safety inspection planned for Wednesday morning to assess if safe for us to reopen the A83 for road users.
“We will have teams constantly monitoring the hillside and weather conditions in the area throughout the forecast heavy rain to ensure the route remains safe for road users.
“We’re continuing to operate on a safety-first basis, and if we determine it safe to reopen the A83 at an earlier opportunity then we will do so.
“In the meantime we’re continuing to progress with our ongoing programme of mitigation measures on the hillside and will do everything we can to minimise disruption as much as possible.
“Argyll remains open for business and we advise road users to plan ahead by checking Traffic Scotland for the latest travel information.”
Real-time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland or the mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.
Friday 19 March – 2.15pm
Convoy operations on the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful are to be extended by a further 30 minutes from tonight, Friday 19 March, closing at 6.30pm as the hours of available daylight continue to lengthen.
The A83 will remain open between 7.15am and 6.30pm each day when weather conditions allow, with traffic being safely convoyed along the route. From 6.30pm to 7.15am, traffic will continue to be diverted to the Old Military Road through the centre of the glen as an overnight safety precaution.
Over the past two weeks, the A83 through Glen Croe has remained in constant operation during daylight hours, with teams undertaking daily inspection and monitoring activities on the hillside to protect road users.
The more favourable weather experienced recently has helped teams move forward with a number of mitigation measures on the hillside. These include completing an extension of the roadside debris fence on the A83, progressing with construction of a new catchpit adjacent to the trunk road, and implementing further repairs to hillside debris fences damaged by recent landslide events.
Whilst better weather is current being experienced, hillside monitoring and inspection remains essential to the safe operation of traffic, and as such the Old Military Road remains on stand-by during the daytime as an alternative route through Glen Croe should hillside conditions deteriorate.
As part of the wider maintenance of the A83, a section of road surface at Drishaig, located between Inveraray and Cairndow, has been identified as needing urgent repair. An emergency overnight closure of the trunk road has been arranged between 7pm on Sunday 21 March and 5am on Monday 22 March at this location to allow the work to take place safely. Local access from Tarbet to as far as the Loch Fyne Oyster Bar at Clachan will be maintained via the A83 and Old Military Road during the closure. Access for emergency services will be maintained at all times. Traffic travelling to and from Inveraray, and beyond, will be required to use the A82, A85 and A819.
Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative said: “The better weather experienced in recent days has helped our teams progress with further mitigation measures at the Rest, and has allowed us to continually operate the A83 during daylight hours since 3 March with no reported issues.
“With daylight increasing as we move into spring, we have extended the daily use of the A83 to 6.30pm, however safety remains our top priority which is why traffic continues to be diverted via the Old Military Road during hours of darkness.
“Careful monitoring of the hillside and forecast weather continues to take place so that we are aware of any changes in conditions that could impact the area, ensuring we are protecting road users at all times.
“As part of our wider maintenance of the A83, a programme of targeted road surfacing improvements is being implemented along the route, with a single night closure to be implemented at Drishaig this Sunday.
“Local access along the A83 as far as the Loch Fyne Oyster Bar at Clachan will be maintained from Tarbet, however traffic to and from the Inveraray area will be required to use the standard diversion route (A82, A85, A819) overnight.
“We apologise for the inconvenience that these essential road surfacing works might cause, and we ask road users to check the Traffic Scotland website when planning their journey.”
Real-time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland or the new mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.
Friday 12 March – 2pm
Daylight operation of the A83 and night-time use of the Old Military Road is set to continue over the coming period at the Rest and be Thankful, subject to forecast weather and hillside conditions permitting.
Despite some intense periods of weather over the past week, which has brought approximately 100mm of rainfall to the area, the A83 has remained in operation during daylight hours with teams undertaking continuous monitoring and inspection activities to protect road users.
The A83 will continue to remain open between 7.15am and 6pm each day when weather conditions allow with all traffic being safely convoyed through the area. All road users will continue to be diverted via the Old Military Road outwith these times as a safety precaution.
Mitigation work on the hillside continues, with the construction of a new catchpit adjacent to the A83 progressing well and an extension of the roadside debris fence erected following the landslide of August last year nearing completion. On Tuesday, further boulder stabilisation work was successfully completed high up on the hillside, adjacent to one of the deep channels associated with the heavily scarred landslip area, this work being proactively managed so not to impact on traffic operation through Glen Croe.
Teams continue with daily monitoring and assessments of the hillside to determine if the forecast weather will have any impact in the area.
As a safety precaution the Old Military Road will remain on stand-by during the daytime ready to be used as an alternative route through Glen Croe should hillside conditions deteriorate.
Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative said: “Our teams continue to work round the clock on further mitigation measures at the Rest to help increase the resilience of the A83.
“The A83 has been open to all road users between 7.15am and 6pm each day since Wednesday 3 March with no reported issues. Safety remains a top priority which is why traffic continues to be diverted via the Old Military Road during hours of darkness.
“We’re continuing to carefully monitor the hillside and weather conditions in the area daily to establish if there is any impact in the area. The OMR will remain on standby ready for us to safely implement quickly should conditions take a turn during the daytime.
“As ever we’re continuing to prioritise motorist safety at all times and will ensure that we’re doing everything we can to address the ongoing situation at the Rest.”
Real-time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland or the new mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.
Wednesday 3 March – 10.00AM
The A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful has reopened to road users this morning following a safety assessment from teams on site.
The A83 reopened at around 8.20am with all traffic now being safely convoyed through the area. From tomorrow, the route will remain in use from 7.15am to 6pm each day with all traffic being diverted via the Old Military Road local diversion route, which runs parallel to the A83 through Glen Croe, outwith these times.
Teams have worked to complete stabilisation work high up on the hillside at the Rest and Be Thankful after large boulders were exposed following heavy rain last week. The boulders, located some 700m east of the major landslips in August and September last year, were made safe using equipment which was lifted onto the hillside by helicopters on Monday and Tuesday this week. The OMR remained in use for all motorists as a safety precaution while this work was completed.
Teams are now continuing with further mitigation work in the area including the development of the next catch-pit at the bottom of the steep channel formed by landslips in August and September last year, as well as strengthening the debris fences in the area.
Monitoring of the hillside and forecast weather conditions will continue on a daily basis to inform operational decision making for the A83 and OMR, and to ensure road users are kept safe.
Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative said: “The A83 reopened at around 8.20am this morning after teams successfully completed important boulder stabilisation work over the last two days.
“The route will remain in use from 7.15am to 6pm each day when weather conditions allow, and we’ll continue to run the OMR during hours of darkness as a safety precaution.
“We’re continuing to operate on a safety-first approach and will have a team on site carrying out daily safety inspections and assessments of the hillside to afford protection to road users and our operatives who continue to undertake works.
“Teams are continuing mitigation work at the Rest, including developing the next debris catch-pit next to the A83 roadside, as well as work to strengthen the debris fences at sections of the route.
“As ever we thank all road users and the local community for their continued patience as we do all we can to continue to address the ongoing situation at the Rest.”
Real time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland or the new mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.
Monday 1 March – 12.20PM
The Old Military Road local diversion route through Glen Croe remains in use as a safety precaution for all road users whilst boulder stabilisation work is undertaken high on the hillside above the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful.
Teams are working some 700 metres east of the area affected by landslips in August and September in a location that has been closely monitored since the heavy rainfall experienced last week.
With drier weather anticipated over the next few days teams are using a helicopter to ferry equipment to the hillside to allow stabilisation of the boulders that require intervention. As this work is taking place directly above the A83, the Old Military Road will remain in continuous operation as a safety precaution,
It is anticipated that these works will be completed by Wednesday, at which point the A83 will be assessed for use during daylight hours as before.
Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative said:
“The Old Military Road will continue to be in use as an alternative route through Glen Croe while teams stabilise a number of boulders that we identified at the eastern end of the hillside following last week’s heavy rain.
“This process should take around two days to complete, and once we are content that the necessary work has been successfully completed, we will look to reopen the A83 during daylight hours.
“We continue to work on a safety-first approach and will only reopen the trunk road once we are sure it is safe to do so.
“As ever we thank all road users and the local community for their patience while we continue with the ongoing work at the Rest.”
Real time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland or the new mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.
Click here to view archived posts about the Rest and Be Thankful: https://bit.ly/A83RaBTFeb21
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