A permanent vehicle weight restriction has been approved for Glen Etive in a move designed to protect one of the Highlands’ most fragile and environmentally sensitive roads.
Members of the Lochaber Area Committee have agreed to introduce an 18 tonne maximum gross weight limit on the C1094 road through Glen Etive, aiming to safeguard the long term condition of a route that has come under increasing pressure from heavy traffic.
The decision follows growing concern about the structural vulnerability of the road, which was never designed to carry heavy vehicles and is now showing signs of significant wear.
The Highland Council, which is responsible for the road network, has already put in place a 30 foot vehicle length restriction on the stretch between Dalness Estate and Loch Etive, alongside existing weight limits on several bridges along the route.
Despite regular investment, the council says the road remains particularly vulnerable due to how it was originally constructed.
Large sections of the C1094 were built without a traditional foundation and instead sit on peat, meaning the surface effectively floats and is highly susceptible to damage from heavy vehicles.
High visitor numbers accessing Glen Etive each year have placed additional strain on the route, increasing maintenance demands and repair costs.
Council officers warned that without further intervention, the long term viability of the road could not be guaranteed, nor could repeated repairs caused by overweight traffic continue to be funded.
The new weight restriction is intended to ensure the road remains safe and usable for residents, visitors, and emergency services, while preventing further deterioration.
Chair of the Lochaber Area Committee, Kate Willis, said the decision was about protecting a road that was never designed for modern heavy traffic.
“The C1094 was never designed to support heavy haulage or major construction traffic.
“Continued use by overweight vehicles has resulted in subsidence and structural impacts on the wheel tracks, placing an unsustainable burden on maintenance budgets.”
She said the restriction was necessary to protect the future of the route.
“The new weight restriction is a necessary step to preserve this unique and environmentally sensitive road for the future.”
The statutory consultation on the proposed restriction ran from May to October last year and attracted a single objection.
For Glen Etive, a place valued for both its natural beauty and its role as a lived in landscape, the move is being framed as a balance between access and long term protection.
