They also hope to meet transport minister Stewart Stevenson to discuss whether there are any alternative ways of taking forward the long-awaited road along with other Highland transport projects which did not feature in the government's Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR).

When the document was published last month, Hitrans — the regional transport partnership for the five council areas in the Highlands and Islands — initially welcomed the government's recognition of the need for investment in the region's transport network, given the significant level of funding identified against projects.

But having studied the 3800-page review in detail, Hitrans is now voicing concern about the future of some projects, given there are no timescales.

There is also disquiet that some priorities, previously outlined by Hitrans, are not mentioned.

Although the eastern section of the Inverness Trunk Link Route, connecting the A9 with the A96, was included in the STPR, there was no mention of the western section, linking the A9 with the A82 and including a permanent crossing of the Caledonian Canal and River Ness. Completion of the bypass is seen as crucial to easing congestion in the city centre and also for future economic growth.

Hitrans director Dave Duthie was disappointed over the omission of both the Inverness and Elgin bypasses along with lack of investment for the A9 north of Inverness and hoped an explanation would be forthcoming from Transport Scotland, the Scottish Government's agency.

"Clearly, we did produce our original transport strategy which did identify priorities across the region," Mr Duthie said. "We have a number of those in but we have a number that are not and that is a concern. We would like to discuss further the projects which have not been included.

"We will be going forward to Transport Scotland who carried out the review and asking them about the process which allowed these to be taken out of the programme and the basis on which that was done."

He also queried the lack of any committed timescales.

It is hoped a meeting with Mr Stevenson to discuss whether there are alternative mechanisms for taking forward projects including the Inverness bypass can be arranged. "Our main aim is to get moving on the design and so when money becomes available, we can do something on the ground," he said. "That is where we want the government to work with us."

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