Full speed ahead for new road to link A96 and A9 between Inshes and Smithton in Inverness
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The long-awaited new road between Inshes and Smithton in Inverness has taken a major step towards becoming reality.
Transport Scotland has revealed chunks of land it will be seeking compulsory purchase orders for – and announced the dates of two public exhibitions for the plans.
Sixty-five parcels of land of various sizes are to be bought for the East Link, much of it footways and verges of existing roads and scrub land, but arable land and woodland are also earmarked for purchase, as well as the bed and banks of a tributary of the Scretan Burn.
Transport Scotland has also intimated that the project, costing up to £35 million, will be subject to an environmental impact assessment.
Political and business figures have broadly welcomed the latest developments.
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP David Stewart said: “I am delighted that we’re finally seeing progress with this badly-needed infrastructure scheme. I’m sure it will cut congestion and improve access to the Inverness Campus.
“However there needs to be consultation with the local community and land owners. A balance has to be struck with what the community wants.”
Stewart Nicol, chief executive of Inverness Chamber of Commerce, also hailed the major step forward.
He said: “It is good to see this work on an important piece of infrastructure in the city progressing.
“It will give clarity to the proposed route, and an opportunity to engage businesses and the communities involved. It will be good to see this new road moving forward at pace.”
Highland Council’s director of development and infrastructure Stuart Black said: “We welcome the progress being made on the East Link and look forward to it being delivered within the remaining seven years of the Inverness and Highland City-Region deal. We will continue to support Transport Scotland to progress the scheme and unlock new development land in East Inverness.”
The also hailed the advance.
Regional director of the Scottish Council for Development and Industry, Fraser Grieve, said: “It is really positive to see progress being made on this really important link road, not only in terms of facilitating travel between the A9 and A96, but also in terms of opening up new land for housing development.”
While the route has been welcomed in most quarters, there is still concern that there will be no direct connection to the A9, and the busy Inshes Roundabout will still have to be negotiated.
The new road will provide enhanced facilities for road users, cyclists and pedestrians including a shared surface on both sides of the carriageway.
Plans also include a dedicated cycleway and separate footpath linking to Inverness Retail and Business Park.
Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, said: “Since we identified the preferred option for the scheme in late 2017, our design consultants have progressed the detailed design and assessment of the preferred option, which included consideration of all the feedback received, and we are now able to publish draft orders for this scheme.
“I would encourage anyone with an interest to attend the exhibitions or view the draft orders and Environmental Impact Assessment report on the Transport Scotland website.”
There will be two public exhibitions later this month each running between noon and 7pm.
The first will take place on Wednesday, September 25, at Raigmore Community Centre and the second the next day at Smithton Church in Murray Road.
The draft orders and Environmental Impact Assessment Report are available to view at https://www.transport.gov.scot/projects/a9a96-inshes-to-smithton/
The exhibition material will also be available to view online from noon on September 25.
