MAINTENANCE teams working on the clear-up operation at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful say they do not expect the road to re-open on Friday.
More than 1,000 tonnes of mud and debris spilled down onto the trunk road linking Helensburgh and Lomond with Argyll on Thursday, forcing the closure of the key route.
The incident, at Glen Croe between Ardgartan and the Rest and Be Thankful, was reported at around 3am following a long spell of heavy rain.
A diversion using the Old Military Road on the opposite side of Glen Croe was opened at around 11am, with a convoy system in place, and remains in use, but drivers are still being warned to expect delays.
The debris blocked the carriageway to the east of the section where debris fences and catch pits have been installed in a bid to prevent landslips.
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BEAR Scotland, the company responsible for maintaining the road, said in an update on Friday afternoon: "While teams continue to work hard to re-open the main carriageway as quickly and safely as possible, at this stage, our estimate is that the A83 will not reopen on Friday."
It is not yet known when the road will reopen in full. The company also says 86 millimetres of rain fell in the area in the two days before the landslip occurred.
Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s North West Manager said: “Safety is our top priority, and we’re doing all we can to assess the slope and the extent of the debris from the steep hillside above the carriageway.
“As ever, we thank the local community and road users for their patience and assure them we’re doing everything we can to address the landslip at the Rest and Be Thankful as quickly and safely as we can.
"We remind road users that Argyll remains open for business, and rest assured we’re doing everything possible to ensure the A83 opens as soon as it is safe to do so.
“Road users should also check Traffic Scotland for the latest information about the Rest and Be Thankful, and we’ll be doing our best to keep stakeholders updated on progress.”
Western Ferries can also accommodate vehicle traffic between central Scotland and Argyll, via its Gourock-Dunoon route and the A815 Dunoon-Cairndow road.
Real time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland at www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland or the new mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.
A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: “We understand the frustration the incident will bring for local communities and drivers. Our operating company, BEAR Scotland, is working to reopen the road as quickly as possible and the Old Military Road diversion route is also now in use.
“In the longer term, we remain committed to reducing the risk of landslide impacts at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful, helping to ensure that Argyll remains open for business.
“To date, more than £13m has been invested in landslide measures at the Rest and Be Thankful and the Old Military road, which have helped keep the road open for an estimated 48 days when it would otherwise have closed.
"This is part of the £79m invested in the maintenance and resilience of the A83 since 2007.
“Four roadside catchpits have now been completed, with a total capacity of almost 15,000 tonnes and we are exploring options for further catchpits.
"We will keep the community updated on developments.”
READ MORE: Catch up with all the latest Helensburgh and Lomond news headlines here
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