Plans to upgrade the A82 Loch Lomondside took a step forward today, when Transport Scotland outlined its proposals for alleviating traffic congestion at Pulpit Rock.

Details of the works, which will result in traffic signals being removed from the location after 30 years and the road upgraded to enable the free flow of traffic have been published.

Transport Minister Keith Brown said: "The Scottish Government is committed to upgrading the A82, as set out in the Infrastructure Investment Plan. The route sits in one of the most unique and challenging landscapes in Scotland. It is important that we carefully plan a solution that fits well with the geographical challenges of this route and better connects the businesses and communities in the Highlands and Islands with those in the central belt, while maintaining the renowned beauty of the area.

"This is an important milestone and signals a step forward with this long-awaited scheme. However, infrastructure projects such as this are huge undertakings and simply do not – cannot – happen overnight.

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"The work involves considerable design and development work which is absolutely essential to get the right scheme at the right price and keeping impacts on communities and businesses to the absolute minimum.

"Meaningful engagement with directly affected communities is at the heart of all our major infrastructure projects and we will seek public feedback on this scheme at key stages of the project. Scottish Ministers remain committed to improving the traffic flow situation at Pulpit Rock and will continue to progress the scheme with a view to completing it at the earliest possible opportunity."

The improvements will involve the provision of a new 0.4km single two-lane carriageway and a new viaduct structure which will run parallel to the loch shoreline for 180m and online widening of the existing carriageway to the north of the structure.

Construction is expected to last for around one year and the anticipated construction cost for the scheme is £11 million.

In addition to the Pulpit Rock project, water-based environmental surveys will also be carried out next week on the west bank of Loch Lomond, between Tarbet and Inverarnan. These are part of a £500,000 programme of engineering and environmental surveys currently underway on this stretch of the route. These surveys will help inform the next stage of design work on the A82.

An additional £2 million has been committed in the next spending review to take forward further design work on this route.

The A82 is the main link road from Glasgow and the Central Belt to Fort William, the Highlands and the Western Isles. The road is wedged between Loch Lomond and the steeply sloping hillside and any works on it will provide real engineering challenges.

(GK)