What its position is on whether the alternative green route, along the other side of the glen, for the A83 Rest and Be Thankful section sho…

The Scottish Government is committed to delivering a long-term solution to the landslip risks at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful and in December we made further progress by publishing draft Orders for the long-term solution and also for future phases of the medium-term solution to provide an improved diversionary route along the Old Military Road. Publication of draft Orders marks the start of the statutory authorisation process.Transport Scotland carries out a rigorous assessment process to establish the preferred option for a trunk road improvement, like improvements to the A83. The three-stage assessment process, based on standards and good practice set by the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB), covers environmental, engineering, traffic and economics.Public engagement and meaningful dialogue with directly affected communities and other stakeholders is also at the heart of the development and delivery of our projects.Following the detailed assessment of the options under consideration, including the Green Option, the preferred route option for the long-term solution to the landslide challenges at the Rest and Be Thankful, a 1.4km long debris flow shelter along the route of the existing A83, was announced in June 2023. This option will reduce the impact of disruption for travel to, from and between Argyll and Bute and the central belt of Scotland, had the greatest potential to be delivered quickly, was the most favourable across a broad range of environmental criteria and had the greatest opportunity to encourage active travel.It should also be noted that the latest estimated cost for the preferred debris flow shelter option is £409 million to £510 million at 2024 prices; while the estimated cost of the Green Option as assessed during the route options assessment process was £821 million to £932 million at 2023 prices, significantly more than the debris flow shelter preferred option.Further detail on the assessment work undertaken during the route options assessment process is set out in the DMRB Stage 2 Route Options Assessment Report, a copy of which is available on the Transport Scotland website (Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) stage two route options assessment report
- A83 Access to Argyll and Bute | Transport Scotland).Transport Scotland continues to progress the preferred option through the statutory authorisation process. Revisiting the route options assessment process would introduce significant delay to delivering a long-term solution to the landslip risks at the Rest and Be Thankful.