Heavy and persistent rainfall on Friday evening and Saturday have caused major impacts on the trunk and local roads networks in Scotland, with significant disruption across Argyll.

The area around the A83 Rest and Be Thankful saw a month’s worth of rain, around 160mm, fall over 36 hours. Road operator BEAR Scotland says catch pits and fences have ensured only a small amount of debris has reached the road at the Rest and Be Thankful itself.

Within the road closed section of the A83 between Inverary and the Rest and Be Thankful, six further landslips have been identified and around 2,000 tonnes of debris is deposited on the A83 at this time.

Safety inspections are now underway, and teams are on site for clear-up operations where it is deemed safe to do so.

Road closures are in place between Inverarary and Tarbet due to landslides both sides of Dunoon junction. The hard closure point is at Ardgarten, with Road Closed Ahead at Tarbet.

Road closures are in place on the A85 at Loch Awe, the A828 Benderloch and the A84 Anie Straights (south of Strathyre) due to flooding. BEAR Scotland says it is continuing to assess the situations locally while waiting for the flood waters to subside.

Ian Stewart, BEAR Scotland’s North West Representative, said, “This extreme weather has caused widespread disruption, with Argyll significantly affected. Our teams are beginning clear up operations to return full access to residents of Argyll, but conditions are still difficult, and we need to ensure that those on site are safe.  As such, it is unlikely the A83 will reopen today.

“We are also continuing to work as part of the Argyll and Bute Resilience Partnership to assess road closures and incidents in the area.”

Current Police Scotland advice is to avoid travel in Argyll and Bute, and the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful will remain closed.

(Picture of Butterbridge Glenkinglas courtesy Bear Scotland)