A single track road near Oban re-opened at midday today after a huge crane was recovered.
The 100-tonne piece of machinery was blocking the back road between Kilmore and Connel near Oban after it toppled on to its side on Wednesday.
A further two cranes and two diggers were brought in to lift it out of the ditch.
Argyll and Bute Council, responsible for the unclassified road, began the recovery operation yesterday but doubted if the road would reopen today.
The local authority roads specialists thought that the recovery operation was likely to cause significant damage to the narrow road, but today were pleased to report it was not as bad as they originally feared.
A council spokesman said: “A large crane has been driven down this road too fast, has gone off the road and fallen over on its side.
“It was a substantial operation. The crane weighed more than 100 tonnes. We required to dig pits for the plant machinery to get in to lift it.
“The council will pursue the responsible party for the costs incurred.”
He said that while the road was reopened, contractors would carry out further work next week to make good verges, ditches and culverts, and to repair the road surface.
Inspector Julie McLeish of Oban police station said: “We received a report of a large crane having gone off the road at 2.30pm on Wednesday. We were at the scene directing traffic and putting a diversion in place.”
A spokesman for Whyte Crane Hire based in Grangemouth, said: “The crane has been recovered and is back in the yard.”