But now the Kessock Bridge is in line for its first major refurbishment works - scheduled for Spring 2011 - which will last six months.

Fears the whole city and surrounding area could be grid-locked as a result of the project, which will reduce traffic in both directions to one lane, has prompted Transport Scotland and Highland Council to look at drawing up a traffic management plan.

Scotland Transerv, which will carry out the work on behalf of Transport Scotland, is predicting queues of more than one hour at peak times - between 7am and 9am and 4pm and 6pm - unless a plan can be put in place.

To tackle such congestion, the company estimates 1100 vehicles need to be cut per day from the 33,000 that currently use the bridge and is urging people to car share and use public transport wherever possible.

But several other options are also being considered.

Traffic lights could be placed on the Longman Roundabout to help the traffic flow, therefore reducing tailbacks in the city and major routes including the A9, A82 and A96.

Scotland Transerv is also working with bus companies to provide a more frequent service between the Black Isle and Inverness while the work takes place. Another option being discussed with Network Rail is to reinstate the old station at Conon Bridge to provide more commuter options.

Meanwhile, Scotland Transerv and Highland Council are also looking at providing a park and ride facility, possibly on the field opposite the petrol station near the Tore roundabout.

Around 500 parking spaces would be created and a regular bus service provided.

Priority on the approach to the bridge would also be given to buses.

Once resurfacing work starts, the A9 leading up to the bridge will be divided into one lane for heavy goods vehicles and buses, and the other for all vehicles. Then, when the flow of traffic arrives at the bridge, all vehicles will converge into one lane, where a contraflow system will be put in place. One carriageway will be divided into a north and south lane, and the opposing carriageway will be closed for repair works. The carriageways will then be reversed.

Black Isle councillor Craig Fraser is urging people living north of Inverness not to take the longer route through Beauly to reach the Highland Capital.

He thinks this will only lead to more congestion in other parts of the city and the Beauly area.

Instead, he is supporting Scotland Transerv's call for people to car share and use public transport.

"People have to realise the bridge is taking the impact of such a large volume of traffic every day and is therefore in need of improvement," he said.

"I think the amount of traffic using the bridge is far more than anyone ever envisaged.

"People need to think whether they want big pot holes and the like which eventually damages their vehicles, or do they want a slight inconvenience for a vast improvement for years to come."

He continued: "My father was born in Cromarty and we used to come up here on holiday when I was a young boy. We used to have to either go round by Beauly or use the ferry at South Kessock and if you missed the ferry then you were stuck for quite a while.

"So the bridge has been a great asset and has opened up the Black Isle, with around 30,000 vehicles using it every day."

Councillor Billy Barclay (Black Isle) is in favour of the park and ride option. "There will be parts of the day which will be totally grid-locked in and out of Inverness," he said.

"It's going to be a very serious situation with businesses being affected by late employees or lorry drivers maybe missing the ferry north because they have been stuck in traffic over the bridge.

"But there's no use hiding from it. Everyone must try to deal with it in the best way they can and I think the main problem solver is to get people out of their cars and onto the buses and trains.

"This is the first major works on the bridge since it was built and if this is going to do us for another 30 years then we can't really complain."

Scotland Transerv has scheduled the work - needed because the road surface on the bridge is cracking and pot holes are appearing - to start in March 2010, therefore reducing the opportunities for delays caused by high winds and rainfall, associated with the winter.

"This will be the first major works since the bridge was opened in 1982 and the new surface should last for more than 30 years," said a spokesman, who added only patchwork repairs had taken place before.

"When you balance it into the number of years the new surface should last then you could say it's a short term pain for a long term gain."

The works will involve removing the old surface. The steel plate under the road surface will then be blasted clean and the welding tested. Any repairs needed will be made and a specialist waterproof membrane will be sprayed before a new surface is laid and road-markings re-applied and kerbs painted.

Scotland Transerv will also take the opportunity to carry out other works including replacing the bridge deck expansion joints, lighting columns, safety fences in the central reserve and on footways.

The foot and cycle paths will also be resurfaced.

Options

• Park and Ride Facility at Tore.
• Car Share.
• More regular bus services, plus priority bus lane.
• Traffic lights at the Longman Roundabout to control flow.
• Reinstating old railway station at Conon Bridge.

* Work on the Cromarty Bridge is also needed but will not start until the Kessock Bridge resfuracing is complete. Remedial work is required but the full scale will not be known until an assessment takes place next year.

The Cromaty Bridge connects the Black Isle to Easter Ross and is used by approximately 10,000 vehicles per day.

morrison_j@spp-group.com

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