A83 road closure

[Beachcomber]

Sheik was talking to a policeman who was at the landslide and the answer to your question is "b"

Is their other car a Landrover, perchance? I wonder how they explained that one to the AA?

[hoots the scoop]

Hoots the scoop - is it open or closed.

I want to go shopping on Tuesday!

[SmithD]

Its closed for a month I think?

[Sheik Yir Erse]

The latest info on Traffic Scotland website:

http://www.nadics.org.uk/news/index.aspx?id=369

This states they are working over the weekend, obviously with the sole purpose of increasing their overtime

[4th gen Suthen']

If the landslide had been this side of Ardishaig we would all be having a great time complaining bitterly that if it had been North of Lochgilphead it would have been cleared long ago!!

I am sure they are doing their best to get it sorted....no easy way to do it though.
I had never realised, till now, that The Rest is climbing the southern slopes of The Cobbler......but, right enough, so it must be!

[Ship called Dignity]

Does anyone have any information on the road closure.

Hearing stories it could be closed for weeks...

[SmithD]

Transerv are who the council get there info from. We've had updates thro the week about it.

http://www.trafficscotland.org/news/index.aspx?id=369

I see Sheik has added the site already. Pretty impressive pic!

[westport321]

I see the transport minister is to visit the landslip site, that should get it sorted... right?

[Beachcomber]

I see the transport minister is to visit the landslip site, that should get it sorted... right?

You can rely on a politician to never miss the chance of a photocall.

[Ticketty Boo!]

Spoke to a civil engineer colleague today who has some connections with the job. They're looking at the possibility of a controlled explosion to bring down the existing slurry. Other than that, a series of steps would have to be built into the hillside - each one strong enought to take a very big long reach digger. This would take months as the concrete curing for each step would be up to 4 weeks!

[Beachcomber]

Could they not just dig a great big ditch on the uphill side of the road to take away all the water and muck that runs down the hillside there and prevent it going over the road?

Or blast away the road and install a big culvert, relaying the road on top of it?

I'm not an engineer so maybe I'm being a big simplistic about a solution.

[petewick]

I see the transport minister is to visit the landslip site, that should get it sorted... right?

Bet he tries to get a freebie in at the Pitstop

[John S]

I think this picture gives a better feel for the scale of the problem. Given the instability of the hillside I don't expect we will know the true extent of engineering required for some time. it is possible that more of the hillside will come down with the heavy rain forecast over the next few days.

[Ship called Dignity]

Cacking photo John - did you take it?

Any chance they can open it on the 17th to let us get to the game?

[Beachcomber]

I think this picture gives a better feel for the scale of the problem. Given the instability of the hillside I don't expect we will know the true extent of engineering required for some time.

Excellent photo, John. Taken from the forestry road on the other side of the Glen Croe, I'd guess? You don't appreciate just how high that hillside is when you view it from the road.

Is there any reason why the old road through the valley couldn't be re-opened to light traffic whilst the main A83 is closed?

No doubt those in the know are already making use of both it and the forestry tracks where they're passable.