Annex B - AtkinsRealis WSP Joint Venture Presentation Slides

Slide 1 - Meeting details

Slide 1 - Meeting details, as described in the following text

A83 Rest and Be Thankful

Task Force No.31

12 March 2026

Rory Gunn (AWJV)

Slide 2 - Two-way Free Flowing Options

Slide 2 - Two-way Free Flowing Options, as described in the following text

Two-way Free Flowing Options

Task Force Action 30.5: Transport Scotland to arrange further discussions with John Gurr and the Campaign Group to review two-way options.

Meetings Held:

  • 29 October 2025 (Inveraray)
  • 18 November 2025 (Site walkover – forestry track)
  • 10 December 2025 (Inveraray)
  • 30 January 2026 (online – Teams)

Transport Scotland has taken forward outline design and appraisal of the following two-way, free flowing options:

  • Two-Way Forestry Track
  • Two-Way Old Military Road (OMR)
  • Loop Arrangement (westbound on Forestry Track, eastbound on OMR)

Slide contains a diagram showing the routes of the options through Glen Croe valley investigated in the appraisal with a red line along the Forestry track, a purple line along the Old Military Road and arrows indicting the directions for the loop option.

Slide 3 - Two-way forestry track summary

Slide 3 - Two-way forestry track summary, as described in the following text

Two-way Forestry Track Summary

Overview:

Two-way single carriageway option generally following the existing lower forestry track on the western side of Glen Croe on the lower slopes of Ben Donich.

Key Features:

  • Length: 3.85km
  • Carriageway width: 9.3m (including 1m hardstrips)
  • Average Gradient: 7.1%
  • Gradient: 10%
  • Max height cutting: 66m
  • Watercourse crossings: 46 No. (estimate)

Journey Times (Average Annual 12 hour (7am – 7pm):

  • Westbound: 7 Minutes
  • Eastbound: 5 Minutes

Scheme cost estimate:

  • Estimated Total Outturn Costs: £239M to £255M (Including Prep, inflation, risk/opportunity, Optimism Bias, VAT)

Time to start of construction:

  • 3.5 years (assuming no PLI)

Notes:

  • Ground Investigation (in parallel with DMRB Stage 2 & 3): 18 months
  • DMRB Stage 2: 6 Months
  • DMRB Stage 3 and EIA: 12 months
  • Statutory Process (assumes no PLI): 12 months

Procurement: 12 months

Construction Duration:

  • 2.5 years

Note: Total time to completion will impact commencement of LTS construction resulting in inflationary increase of £70M to £90M to LTS outturn cost.

Slide 4 - Two-way Track/OMR "Loop" Summary

Slide 4 - Two-way Track/OMR "Loop" Summary as described in the following text

Two-way Old Military Road (OMR) Summary

Overview:

Generally follows the existing alignment of the OMR up to the point of the existing ‘hairpin’ bend as a two-way single carriageway. At this point, the route diverges, with an offline northbound carriageway heading west before connecting into the B828, Eastbound traffic would continue to use the OMR from the Rest and Be Thankful car park.

Key Features:

  • Length: 4.76km (westbound), 3.97km (eastbound)
  • Carriageway width: 9.3m (including 1m hardstrips), 4m for single track sections
  • Average Gradient: 8.74% (westbound), 12% (eastbound)
  • Gradient: 14.72% (existing OMR)
  • Max height cutting: 30m
  • Watercourse crossings: 39 No. (estimate)

Journey Times (Average Annual 12 hour (7am – 7pm):

  • Westbound: 7 Minutes 30 seconds
  • Eastbound: 5 Minutes 15 seconds

Scheme cost estimate:

Estimated Total Outturn Costs: £87M to £99M (Including Prep, inflation, risk/opportunity, Optimism Bias, VAT)

Time to start of construction:

  • 3.5 years (assuming no PLI)

Notes:

  • Ground Investigation (in parallel with DMRB Stage 2 & 3): 6 months
  • DMRB Stage 2: 6 Months
  • DMRB Stage 3 and EIA: 12 months
  • Statutory Process (assumes no PLI): 12 months
  • Procurement: 12 months

Construction Duration:

  • 2 years

Note: Total time to completion will impact commencement of LTS construction resulting in inflationary increase of £70M to £90M to LTS outturn cost.

Slide 5 - Two-way Track/OMR “Loop” Summary

Slide 5 - Two-way Track/OMR "Loop" Summary, as described in the following text

Two–way Track / OMR “Loop” Summary

Overview:

A combination of the previous two options. Westbound traffic would travel on an upgraded single track carriageway, generally following the existing lower forestry track noted previously. Eastbound traffic would travel on the OMR which will include an improved carriageway over the steeper section at the northern end of the glen.

Key Features:

  • Length: 3.85km (westbound), 3.97km (eastbound)
  • Carriageway width: 4m
  • Average Gradient: 7.1% (westbound), 12% (eastbound)
  • Gradient: 14.72% (existing OMR)
  • Max height cutting: 53m
  • Watercourse crossings: 77 No. (estimate)

Journey Times (Average Annual 12 hour (7am – 7pm):

  • Westbound: 7 Minutes
  • Eastbound: 5 Minutes 15 seconds

Scheme cost estimate:

  • Estimated Total Outturn Costs: £203M to £225M (Including Prep, inflation, risk/opportunity, Optimism Bias, VAT)

Time to start of construction:

  • 3.5 years (assuming no PLI)

Notes:

  • Ground Investigation (in parallel with DMRB Stage 2 & 3): 18 months
  • DMRB Stage 2: 6 Months
  • DMRB Stage 3 and EIA: 12 months
  • Statutory Process (assumes no PLI): 12 months
  • Procurement: 12 months

Construction Duration:

  • 2.5 years

Note: Total time to completion will impact commencement of LTS construction resulting in inflationary increase of £70M to £90M to LTS outturn cost.