Fresh calls for A82 upgrade after latest serious accident

A collision involving a motorcyclist in Tarbet closed both directions of the road between the village and Inverbeg on Thursday afternoon.

The stretch of the A82 was reopened after more than an hour of disruption and the crash was the latest in a long line of incidents on the accident hotspot.

Figures released last month by Transport Scotland revealed the number of people who died in road accidents in Argyll and Bute doubled to eight in 2018, compared to four in 2017, despite a decrease of around 10 per cent in the number of crashes involving fatalities or serious injuries.

Helensburgh’s MSP Jackie Baillie has reiterated her plea for major upgrades to the A82, calling for Transport Scotland to include the popular tourist route in its strategic review of investment priorities for the next five years.

Ms Baillie has been calling for the A82 to be upgraded to dual carriageway for as much of the road as possible, citing the current mix of single and dual lanes on different parts of the road as adding to the danger.

She has written to Michael Matheson, cabinet secretary for transport, urging him to ensure the road doesn’t wait any longer for vital investment.

Ms Baillie said: “The A82 is simply an accident waiting to happen. It is heart-breaking that the number of fatalities resulting from road accidents in Argyll and Bute is increasing, and that the area now suffers from one of the highest number of fatalities in Scotland.

“Time and time again I have highlighted the problems on the A82 and just how dangerous it is for drivers, but as yet, the Scottish Government has yet to make a commitment to dual the road.

“I hope that the Scottish Government will ensure that the A82 is included as an investment priority during the next transport review period.

"We simply cannot wait for more people to lose their lives in accidents before action is taken.”