The A816 is the main route between Lochgilphead and Oban. There have been significant landslips at Millbrae (north of Ford road end / south of Tibertich) on a section of land that supports the public road network. Millbrae is around 3.5 miles south of the A816 Bealach Mor site, where there was a landslip in October 2023.
The scene at the Millbrae landslip site
Update 17 December
The Council’s Infrastructure Design team continues to progress this project in which the following has been undertaken to date:
- Procurement of a Geotechnical Contractor
- Site Management and Traffic Management of the site. The site has traffic light controls and remains open to road users with no weight restrictions.
- More trees have been cleared at the site to allow an assessment to be undertaken
- There was a Geotechnical Assessment and Options Report to allow the Council to take forward a most beneficial option,
- A preferred option was agreed which included soil nail / anchors and shotcrete due to the steepness of the landslip. This was the most cost-effective solution based on timescales whilst also preventing full road closures. There is the potential for night closures if required
- Regular monitoring has been set up to ensure safety of the public road network
- Ongoing upgrade works to the access track to facilitate plant/site compound for permanent works
- Liaise with relevant stakeholders to facilitate the emergency works such as SEPA, planning and landowners.
- Assembling tender documentation for permanent works
- A quotation for the permanent works provided on 17/02/2025
Next Steps:
- We will assess quotation and, if acceptable, we will progress with the contract award
- Works will be carried out on site immediately to secure integrity of the A816. Works are currently expected to last until June 2026, but this could change due to site conditions such as findings of the ground investigation
- Monitoring of the slip will be ongoing
Update 3 December 2025
Following concerns in November 2025, when visible slip areas were noted, the road was restricted to one lane to protect the safety of the travelling public. This reduced risk to traffic on the north bound carriageway of the road, and the council subsequently engaged specialist tree surgeons to clear vegetation around the slip site.
Between Friday 28 November and Monday 1 December there was a further, large slippage at the site - probably due to weather conditions over the weekend.
The Council’s Infrastructure Design team is now progressing the project, which shall include:
- Engaging a specialist Geotechnical Contractor to carry out emergency works and management of the site. (contract is in place, awarded on Monday 01/12/2025)
- Prepare a Geotechnical Assessment and Options Report to allow the Council to take forward a most beneficial option
Current status:
- The road is under traffic light control and remains open to road users
- No weight restriction is currently in place
- Due to the assessment currently being undertaken the extents of work to be taken forward is not yet known, nor is whether any road closures will be required to carry out the works. Once this is determined, we will provide updates
- Further vegetation removal has been undertaken
- A drone survey has been carried out to inform geotechnical appraisal
Next Steps:
- An initial report of the findings and options is likely due by end of this week (w/e 5th December)
- The most beneficial option will be determined and agreed
We aim to be on site as quickly as possible, but due to the assessment currently being undertaken, cannot give an accurate timescale at this time for the commencement of works nor for how long the works will take.
