A major trunk road in Argyll remained closed yesterday as the clear-up operation of 1,000 tonnes of mud and debris continued.
A landslide occurred at notorious blackspot The Rest and Be Thankful on the A83 Tarbet to Campbeltown road in the early hours of Thursday following extensive heavy rain.
The Old Military Road emergency diversion road was being used to take traffic through under a convoy system.
Prior to the emergency route being opened several hours after the slide, motorists faced a 60-mile diversion.
A spokesman for road maintenance firm Bear Scotland said: “The clear up operation involves removing more than 1,000 tonnes of mud and debris as well as works to stabilise and make safe the slope above the A83.
“The Old Military Road local diversion route will remain open overnight under a convoy system to help minimise disruption.”
More than 86mm of rainfall fell on the hillside in the two days before the landslip took place.
It happened at 3am on Thursday east of the normal area covered by debris fences and catchpits.
Geotechnical experts said the landslide appears to have been triggered by a slip in the forested area high above the road.
The Bear Scotland spokesman said last night that the clear up operation and slope stabilisation were well underway.
Transport Scotland has installed a number of mitigation measures including catchpits and fences in the area, which has been blighted by landslides for years, cutting off a large part of Argyll and the west Highlands each time.
The issue was raised with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in the Scottish Parliament by Highlands and Islands MSP Donald Cameron on Thursday.
Ms Sturgeon promised that the Scottish Government would continue to look for further improvements which could be made at the Rest.
Speaking later, Mr Cameron said: “This latest landslip is grim news for local people and businesses who have been promised action for years.
“Yet again we are left wondering how long it will be before normal service is resumed for the increasing numbers of people who use the A83.
“The fact is that decisive action from the Scottish Government could have sorted this out years ago.
“But despite all the fine words and promises, very little has been done to secure this vital lifeline route.”
