The upgraded A82 between Tyndrum and Glencoe Village recently received a National Transport Trust Red Wheel, after it was designated a site of transport heritage.
A ceremony at the Bridge of Orchy Hotel, which sits on one of the country’s finest 20th century roads, saw National Transport Trust vice-president John Cameron CBE unveiling the distinctive plaque on Wednesday April 24.
Unveiling the Red Wheel Mr Cameron said that too often we take our roads for granted, complaining about potholes, for example, when we should be marvelling at their story of constant improvement, from Roman times onwards.
Conceived at a time of depression and built at a time when more tourists were heading north in search
of the Loch Ness monster, the A82 upgrading transformed what had been an unsurfaced track into the fine road on a new alignment, which now gives visitors a superb appreciation of Glen Coe while quickening lorryloads of Scottish produce on their way to market.
Mr Cameron recalled that at the official opening of the entire project in September 1934, the then transport minister Leslie Hore-Belisha had accepted a sgian dubh with which he cut a ribbon of Cameron tartan declaring that the new A82 was a symbol of Britain’s recovering strength, like the ocean liner Queen Mary, which had been launched days before at Clydebank.
Conveniently, the old route became available for conversion 40 years later, between Tyndrum and
Kingshouse to form part of the West Highland Way.
There are now 178 National Transport Trust Red Wheels at heritage sites across Britain.
The wording on the Highland Road Upgrade Red Wheel says: "This road, built between 1928 and 1932, replaced an unsurfaced track and is an outstanding example of work to open up the Highlands to motor traffic."
There is a QR code on the Red Wheel which takes visitors using their smartphones to the National Transport Trust website for a full account of the A82 upgrade.
Yes! I would like to be sent emails from West Coast Today
I understand that my personal information will not be shared with any third parties, and will only be used to provide me with useful targeted articles as indicated.
I'm also aware that I can un-subscribe at any point either from each email notification or on My Account screen.