Argyll and Bute’s provost has called for the council to keep the pressure on new Scottish transport secretary Kevin Stewart on the Rest and Be Thankful stretch of the A83.
Maurice Corry made the call after the council leader reported back from a meeting with Mr Stewart’s predecessor Jenny Gilruth.
Robin Currie’s report stated that funding had been pledged by Ms Gilruth for the stretch of the trunk road, which has frequently been closed by landslides.
Cllr Dougie McFadzean asked Cllr Currie: “Following on from the meeting with the then transport minister Jenny Gilruth, what was the content of the conversation and do you have any updates?”
Cllr Currie responded: “The most important thing I got from that meeting was the question I asked Ms Gilruth about funding for the Rest and Be Thankful.
“She confirmed that this was a priority for the Scottish Government and monies were guaranteed for the scheme, so that was really good to hear.”
Cllr Corry then said: “I was at that meeting too. Let’s keep the pressure on Mr Stewart and push this through.”
In September councillors backed cross-party calls for the route to be in place by the next Scottish Parliament elections in May 2026.
Five possible route options in Glen Croe have been identified, potentially including a tunnel or debris shelter.
In October 2022 an £11.3m contract was awarded jointly to Atkins Ltd of Glasgow and WSP of Edinburgh for consultants to provide services supporting delivery of a new length of trunk road at the Rest.
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