Campaigners in the Highlands claim one of the main roads into the area is “at breaking point” with closures and accidents.
The A82 Partnership claims closures are averaging every three days, and they estimate the cost to the community could be as much as £100k each time.
Chairman Stewart MacLean says the number of closures on the route – particularly between Tyndrum and Loch Ness – is bringing the area to its knees.
Mr MacLean told the P&J: “Over the last few weeks I have had more than five notifications of planned road closures on the A82, and I have heard of accident after accident.
“It has come to the point the road is just at breaking point. It is all very well deciding to close the road to do upgrades and maintenance, but the problem is they are only redoing like for like. No one is thinking about making the road wider – or into a dual carriageway.
“The uncertainty of the road being opened or closed is now costing us a fortune.”
Mr MacLean said people are being “crippled economically”. He continued: “It is the cumulative effect of the road being closed. Tourists hear how bad it is and won’t come back. And we do not have the public transport links of other areas.
“We have lots of questions that are not being answered. No economic study has been properly undertaken. We can estimate how much a road closure costs the local community. But is our figure of £50-100,000 every time near the mark or not? There is no one who can tell us.
“And in our estimates the A82 is closed every three days – but what are the real figures? No one knows. It is time that we were taken much more seriously, and that is why we are calling for more action on the A82.”
A Transport Scotland spokesman said: “We recognise the A82 is a vital artery for communities.
“Since 2007, we have spent over £112 million on maintenance and minor improvements, including improved sections of carriageway.
“We have also delivered a new bypass at Crianlarich and the Pulpit Rock scheme which has removed the bottleneck and traffic lights, improving traffic flow and journey time reliability.
“We are not stopping there, and remain committed to upgrading the A82 between Tarbet and Inverarnan.
“The development and assessment of the preferred option, is well under way with a view to publishing draft orders later this year.
“When completed, the scheme will bring improved safety and journey time reliability”
