Green light for Inverness traffic signals
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Work to install new traffic lights at a notorious accident hot spot could begin within weeks, it has been revealed.
Safety concerns have been raised for years about the junction between Tower Road and Culloden Road in the Westhill area of Inverness.
It has been the scene of a number of near misses and collisions between vehicles – on Sunday a two-vehicle collision resulted in a 19-year-old man being reported to the Procurator Fiscal.
Councillor Ken Gowans, who represents residents in Highland Council’s Inverness South ward, has been campaigning for the installation of traffic lights for more than five years and said the safety issues around the junction were an ongoing concern.
He said: “At recent meetings with the roads team I am pleased to announce we have now agreed on a solution.
“Work will begin in the next month or so, to install high-tech traffic lights, together with a new road layout which includes filter lanes and improved pedestrian crossing points.
"This work will cost around £250,000 but make the junction safer for vehicle users, cyclists and pedestrians alike.”
Fellow ward councillor Duncan Macpherson saw Sunday’s accident and said the traffic lights would be a welcome safety improvement.
He said there had been safety concerns and added: “I’ve campaigned for a long time for that and I hope it starts sooner rather than later.”
A Highland Council spokeswoman said that ward councillors had been informed of the planned improvement at the junction last month and added: “Contract documentation is currently being prepared and tenders will be invited later this month.
“It is hoped that work will commence in spring.”
