Question reference: S4W-19227
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 16 January 2014
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Current status: Answered by Keith Brown on 24 January 2014
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the response was to the landslip on the A83 at the Rest and be Thankful on 15 January 2014 and what progress is being made in work to (a) prevent and (b) minimise the impact of landslips on the A83.
Answer
A minor landslide occurred on the A83 Rest and Be Thankful after 16:00 on 15 January 2014. Our operating company, BEAR Scotland and Police Scotland were quickly on site to review and assess the situation and manage the initial response. The A83 was never closed and the Police controlled traffic until an assessment was carried out. This was completed at 17:30, when temporary traffic lights were installed.
The road was fully reopened at 15:55 the following day after the debris, verge and drainage channels were cleared.
The Scottish Government fully appreciates the significance of the A83 trunk road to the communities of Argyll and to the local economy. Over the last seven years, the Scottish Government has spent over £32 million on the A83 trunk road.
Our operating company is currently in the process of procuring the next landslide mitigation phases (10, 11 and 12), which are anticipated to commence on site in February 2014. Progress on this and other works on the A83 are published on the Transport Scotland website: www.transportscotland.gov.uk.
Transport Scotland has also commissioned studies at three other areas on the A83 which are potentially susceptible to disruption due to landslides. These are at Glen Kinglass, Cairndow and Loch Shira. The aim of these studies is to identify solutions to provide a similar level of risk reduction at these areas to that at the Rest and Be Thankful. Draft options reports for each of the sites are currently being prepared.