Motorists can now enjoy a much quicker journey from Campbeltown to Oban after a new emergency route was opened at Kintraw near Ardfern.
The detour, which bypasses the original route, was opened under convoy last Saturday after the A816 was closed by a huge landslide on Saturday October 7.
This was caused by a significant amount of heavy rainfall, with Argyll and Bute Council and its contractors having removed 15,000 tonnes of debris to date, which had fallen on a 200-metre stretch of the road.
An initial landslide had stopped a car and a pick-up from driving up the Bealach, before a second slide sent the vehicles’ four occupants running for their lives.
An Argyll and Bute Council statement said: “We want what our communities want – to move on as quickly as possible from the effects of October’s extreme weather.
“Great news – the emergency road opened, under convoy, on December 16. We are continuing to clear the existing A816 road. We have now removed more than 15,000 tonnes of debris and are constructing a bund to offer additional protection.”
Motorists took to social media to praise those involved in the mammoth efforts to reconnect the surrounding communities, with the original target of opening the new route in mid-November proving too optimistic.
Julie Bennett said: “Well done to those working on it, lifeline road to locals.”
Ian Wilkes added: “Well done guys, you’ve done a fantastic job. I’m sure everyone appreciates your hard work, I know I do.”