A83, a main roadway in the south of Argyll and Bute, Scottish Highlands, has been closed due to a large landslide.
The landslip occurred on January 30, 2020. The two parts of the A83 road were closed after being covered by about 1000 tons of debris.
A clean-up operation is currently being conducted at the Rest and Be Thankful, the highest point of A83.
The slide was probably triggered by an increase of the ground's pore-water pressure following two days of intense precipitation (about 86 millimeters of rain).
Initially, drivers had to follow a 97-kilometer diversion route. Nevertheless, the Old Military Road which is parallel to the A83 was later opened after undergoing inspection.
It's not the first time that the A83 suffers damage due to landslides. In 2014, a similar landslip occurred due to saturated soil and debris covered the road. Later, in 2016, a large boulder crashed into the roadway and a controlled blast operation had to be conducted in order to be removed. Last but not least, in 2018, the road was closed for 9 days after a series of ground failures occurred due to heavy rainfalls.
According to Transport Scotland, more than $17 million have been dedicated to mitigate landslide risk at the Rest and Be Thankful and the Old Military Road since 2007. If the measures had not been applied, the road would close more frequently. "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 £13million ($17.15 million) has been invested in landslide measures at the Rest and Be Thankful and the Old Military Road, which have helped keep the road open for an estimated 48 days when it would otherwise have closed. This is part of the £79million (104.2$ million) invested in the maintenance and resilience of the A83 since 2007. Four roadside catch pits have now been completed, with a total capacity of almost 15,000 tons and we are exploring options for further catch pits. We will keep the community updated on developments," a Transport Scotland spokesman said.
However, local officials emphasize that those measures are not adequate and closing the road every time a landslide strikes cannot be a permanent solution. "The last landslip had a hugely negative impact on local businesses, and as well as day-to-day inconvenience for local residents it caused problems with essential services such as access to medical treatment. The council and the people of Argyll and Bute have been asking for a permanent solution for a decade. Enough is enough - we need an announcement today that work is starting on finding a permanent solution," Aileen Morton, Council Leader at Argyll and Bute Council, stated.
Sources: Dailymail.co.uk, BBC, TheNational.scot
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