TWO-WAY traffic at the Rest and Be Thankful may not return until next summer, a roads official has suggested.

Responding to concerns raised by a councillor at a meeting of community figures, Ian Woodcock, senior civil engineer with Transport Scotland, said traffic lights would remain at the notorious stretch of the A83 into 2025.

Councillor Garret Corner (Conservative, Mid Argyll) admitted that he would be “a bit worried” in the event of any heavy snowfall on the route, with the Old Military Road to be used as a diversion.

Mr Woodcock gave assurances on a plan, and told another councillor that the Rest and Be Thankful will return to two-way traffic, although not for some months.

Cllr Corner asked his question at a meeting of Argyll and Bute Council’s Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands community planning group on Wednesday, November 6.

He asked: “We have had quite mild winters recently. What is the resilience plan for any heavy snowfalls?

“You need the traffic to be moving to keep it open, so I would be a bit concerned about any heavy snow that we get.”

Mr Woodcock responded: “We have a winter maintenance regime in place, which started in October. If we cannot clear the A83 we will certainly maintain the Old Military Road at the same time.

“Regarding the effect of snow on the hillside, the experts have a handle on it and will track the movements.

“They will do all the work in the background and will ensure, if there is a risk, we will apply whatever traffic management we need to.”

Mr Woodcock also spoke at the council’s Bute and Cowal community planning group the previous day, with Councillor Peter Wallace (Conservative, Isle of Bute) asking if there was any prospect of returning to two-way traffic.

He responded: “We were hoping to finish off the remaining fencing by September, but that ended up going on hold for a bit.

“The intention is to get it all built by Christmas. Looking at the long term solution, there is going to be a particular length of traffic management for a few months for ground investigation works to happen.

“In my mind, it will be around May when that is complete – around the end of spring or the beginning of summer next year. It is all based on the weather, but the A83 will go back to two-way traffic.”