Rest and Be Thankful

Transport Scotland has announced its intention to appoint Atkins WSP Joint Ventures to a £25m contract that will secure a long term solution to a Highlands road plagued by landslides.

The investment is an estimate of the overall contract value for the design, promotion, procurement and construction supervision of medium and long-term solutions for the Rest & Be Thankful route on the A83.

Transport minister Jenny Gilruth said: “It is clear that the Rest and Be Thankful needs an urgent solution, which will bring certainty to the lives of those directly impacted when the A83 is cut off.

“This investment from the Scottish government represents a significant milestone because it will allow the vital design work needed to commence at pace.

“Ministers share the urgency communities and businesses place on maintaining and improving connectivity of this vital route, which is why we are progressing measures for the short, medium and long term in tandem.

“We will bring forward proposals for the medium term by the end of this year, with an announcement on the preferred route option for the long term by Spring 2023.”

Rest and Be Thankful is the highest point on the A83, separating Glen Kinglas from Glen Croe.

It also has the highest risk of landslides and debris flow hazards, which has increased in recent years due to the frequency of heavy rainfall.

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