A83 Rest and Be Thankful closed overnight due expected rain

The A83 Rest and Be Thankful will be closed overnight due to heavy rainfall expected in the area.

The key route through Argyll was shut for safety at 6pm on Saturday and will be inspected on Sunday morning with a view to reopening.

The Old Military Road local diversion route – which runs parallel to the A83 through Glen Croe – will remain open for motorists.

#A83 #RestandBeThankful: A83 to close at 6pm and Old Military Road local diversion route to be implemented for all road users due to further heavy rain forecast overnight. Teams remain onsite monitoring conditions – read more here: https://t.co/uugWZeDPtA pic.twitter.com/5tdCNOXjiJ
— BEAR NW Trunk Roads (@NWTrunkRoads) October 24, 2020

Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s north west representative, said: “We’ve assessed the hillside and the forecast weather conditions, and given the extent of rainfall in past days we have taken the decision to close the A83 overnight as a safety precaution.

“It is difficult for us to monitor the hillside and any sudden changes in conditions during the hours of darkness, so we’re continuing to put the safety of motorists first and will close the A83 as a precaution overnight and utilise the OMR local diversion instead.”

A geotechnical assessment will be undertaken from first light on Sunday to determine if the A83 can safely reopen.

Mr Ross added: “Further heavy rain is forecast over the coming days and we’ll be closely monitoring the weather conditions and the hillside at the Rest.

“As ever we’ll do everything we can to keep disruption to a minimum, and we thank all road users and the local community for their continued patience and understanding.”