People power has reversed controversial plans to close a busy Highland road in the early evening for two weeks.
Bear Scotland wanted to shut the A82 at Glencoe from 7pm-7am next month for resurfacing work costing more than £250,000.
But following an outcry by local businesses and organisations, the closure hours have been changed and work will now start at 9pm each evening – beginning on Sunday, May 7.
Stewart MacLean of the A82 Partnership based in Fort William said: “We challenged the need for the closure between Glencoe and Bridge of Orchy as well as the timing, as it will happen at the start of the busy tourist season.
“There were also numerous representations from the local community and Transport Scotland agreed this week to amend the closure from 9pm-7am.
“Any planned closure of this economic artery is unacceptable, but it looks like we are going to have to live with the inconvenience in order to have this section of road resurfaced.”
Noru Innes, one of the owners of the Loch Leven Hotel in North Ballachulish, added: “Closing the road is a nuisance as the area is really busy with tourists, but at least 9pm is a better time.”
A spokesperson for BEAR Scotland said: “We’re planning to carry out over £260,000 of resurfacing improvements to a section of the A82 near Tulla Cottage in May to improve road safety.
“Following initial consultations last month with local stakeholder groups, we’ve taken on board the feedback and, as such, the working hours have been reduced from the original plan
“The scheme is programmed to take place overnight starting on Sunday, May 7 to Monday, May 22, from 9pm to 7am each night, avoiding working on the busier weekend nights, but due to the nature of the works, a road closure will need to be in place each evening during working hours. Traffic will be diverted via the A828 Ballachulish and A85 at Connel.
“Unfortunately a height restriction is in place on the diversion route for vehicles over 13 feet nine inches at the A828 Connel Bridge, and motorists exceeding this should find an alternative route during working hours.
“Alternatively, vehicles in excess of the height restriction can travel along the A82 to Tulla Cottage where they, along with motorists requiring local access only, will be stacked and escorted through the work site only when it is safe to do so. The road will be open to all traffic as normal outwith working hours during the daytime.”
