Campaigners claim new figures show a major link road was closed at some point on nearly half of the days in 2011, making it the most frequently closed road in Scotland.

The A82 Partnership, which wants improvements to the road which links Inverness, Fort William and Glasgow, said the 181 disrupted days is a 60% rise in closures on the year before.

They say the Transport Scotland figures show planned closures have risen from 54 to 107 with unplanned closures, accidents, weather and police incidents up from 59 to 74.

The figures are in addition to the disruption from permanent traffic restrictions at Loch Lochy and Glen Gloy in the Great Glen, Pulpit Rock on Loch Lomondside, Forestry Commission works, road surfacing and maintenance.

Graham Edmond, Head of Network Maintenance for Transport Scotland, will be questioned at a Fort William Chamber of Commerce meeting tomorrow. Chamber chairman Robert Hawkes said "Issues with the A82 and the effect these unceasing closures have on the economy of the whole West Highlands are among our top priorities."

Travellers face more disruption with single lane restrictions at Bridge of Orchy and overnight closures between Tarbet and Crianlarich in September. Councillor Brian Murphy, chairman of the A82 Partnership, said "In my view this is a road in crisis. A road that needs significant investment now."

However a Transport Scotland spokesman said: "The use of statistics in this way is misleading. The A82, as is the case with many roads, is closed from time to time in places for planned maintenance and due to accidents, flooding and blown-down trees.

"These closures, which in the majority of cases do not mean the closure of the whole road, can run from a couple of minutes to many hours, something that is completely ignored in this use of the statistics."