Traffic gridlock hits the west side of Inverness amid latest work on West Link
Drivers in Inverness are facing traffic chaos west of the River Ness with latest work underway on the city’s new swing bridge and West Link road.
With the Torvean Swing Bridge closed, some motorists complained of being stuck for up to an hour in tailbacks in both directions on a diversion from the A82 up General Booth Road.
Kenneth Street, Telford Street and Clachnaharry Road were also badly affected.
Highland Council, which is project managing the work with contractors RJ McLeod, had warned of likely delays earlier in the week.
Skye resident Tom Campbell, who regularly visits his son at the city’s New Craigs Hospital, said: “I’ve spent six hours this week, in all, stuck in traffic on my way to the hospital. It is time I can ill-afford..
“It has been absolute gridlock. I don’t know who gave them permission to do that.
“I phoned the contractors and they apologised, but said they couldn’t do the work at night because of noise issues.
“I’ve spoken to hospital staff and a lot of them were experiencing real problems making shifts on time.”
This week saw construction begin on the new Torvean Bridge, with deck components arriving at the site from fabricators in Darlington.
Surfacing works on the A82 were to blame for delays, with the council indicating that work would be complete early next week.
Landscaping works have also continued, including the building of new walls and ongoing planting on the new roundabout.
Contractors working on the Inverness West Link bypass have said the project, delayed during the Covid-19 lockdown, is progressing well and on target to be completed in the early summer of 2021.
