Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth has welcomed a major milestone of Scottish Government investment in securing a long term solution to the Rest and Be Thankful road. 

Transport Scotland has announced the intention to appoint Atkins WSP Joint Venture to progress design and development work for the route through Glen Croe. The contract represents £25m of Scottish Government investment, an estimate of the overall contract value for undertaking the design, promotion, procurement and construction supervision of medium and long-term solutions.

Commenting, Jenny Gilruth said: “It is clear that the Rest and Be Thankful needs an urgent solution, which will bring certainty to the lives of those directly impacted when the A83 is cut off. 

“This investment from Scottish Government represents a significant milestone because it will allow the vital design work needed to commence at pace.

“Ministers share the urgency communities and businesses place on maintaining and improving connectivity of this vital route, which is why we are progressing measures for the short, medium and long term in tandem.  

“We will bring forward proposals for the medium term by the end of this year, with an announcement on the preferred route option for the long term by Spring 2023.”