£470m Tunnel Proposed for Scotland's "Rest and Be Thankful" Road

Transport Scotland has announced plans for an open-sided shelter to protect vehicles from landslides on the A83 Rest and Be Thankful road in Argyll.

The road has been regularly closed due to falling rocks and debris in recent years, causing long detours for motorists.

The proposed tunnel, which would run for nearly a mile, is estimated to cost between £405m and £470m.

The design includes an additional 19.6 yards of catch pit and a protection wall.

The A83 is an important transport link for mainland Argyll and the Inner Hebrides, with about 1.3 million vehicles traveling the route every year.

The road serves as an almost 100-mile major trunk road, connecting the Mull of Kintyre and southern Argyll to the shores of Loch Lomond.

The "Rest and Be Thankful" section of the A83 gets its name from the steep climb out of Glen Croe near Arrochar.

When the road is closed, an old military road beneath that was originally built by General George Wade in response to the Jacobite uprisings in the 18th Century is opened to traffic.

However, if both roads are closed, a 59-mile diversion via Crianlarich must be put in place.

Kevin Stewart, Transport Minister, said that the government had been working tirelessly to find a long-term solution to the landslide risks.

He added that the proposed new debris flow shelter will help protect the road and road users from future landslides.

Public exhibitions will be held in Arrochar and Lochgilphead in June for four days to showcase the new tunnel plan.

An online exhibition will also be available from Friday.

The transport minister stated that work will now be taken forward at pace to develop the proposals, including the detailed development and assessment of the preferred option, along with the preparation of an Environmental Impact Assessment, draft Road Orders, and draft Compulsory Purchase Orders.

The long-term solution and increased resilience of the temporary diversion route are both being pursued to alleviate the effects of the