Progress made on Raigmore Hospital's new bus gate to estate next door, but still no opening date
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The controlled bus gate route linking Raigmore Hospital through Raigmore Estate to destinations east and west including the city centre is likely to open in October.
This was revealed in a reply to Munro Ross, chairman of Raigmore Comunity Council, after he asked for up-to-date info on the automatic gate service from Stagecoach.
This information will be placed before an open meeting of the community council next Monday (Sep 25) when a member of Stagecoach management will be present to answer questions from councillors and the public.
It will be the last meeting before the election to select community councillors for a new term.
A gate system, which can only be operated by buses and emergency services vehicles, will prevent the link becoming a rat run through the hospital grounds by other motorists.
William Mainus, Stagecoach North Scotland business development director told Mr Ross: "In terms of the gate opening, there is no final date confirmed, though some time in October was hoped for, but that is to be confirmed from the authorities.
"We had a site meeting last week and will have vehicle trials take place once construction is completed."
Regarding the timetable, Mr Mainus said: "Nothing has changed in terms of the services proposed to use it.
"It will be Services 2 and 3, which combined will offer a 15 minute Service during the daytime and hourly in the evenings and Sundays.
"Service 2 will serve Ashton Road loop, while Service 3 will serve Ashton Crescent.
"Service 8 will be withdrawn once the gate opens and Services 2 and 3 start to operate through the estate."
He added: "In addition to the bus gate, at the bottom of Kings Duncan Road, traffic light priority will be added at the exit to allow the buses to get out onto Millburn Road."
The system works with the ticket machine on the all-electric buses sending a GPS signal to the lights.
If they detect the service is running late or getting delayed at the juntion, it will send a red signal to the traffic coming down from Raigmore Interchange.
This system is already set up at a number of traffic signals across the city, but a date for that part of the scheme at Raigmore Estate is yet to be confirmed.
Mr Ross told the Inverness Courier: "I wrote to Stagecoach because there was a lack of feedback on what was happening at Raigmore with the bus gate, and no information on an opening date.
"It seems to be a sensible timetable though older people on the estate who no longer drive have been looking for an increase in bus services between the estate and city centre for years.
"And now that all the buses to Raigmore are electric there will be less air pollution.
"But anyone seeking more information from Stagecoach should come along next Monday and ask the Stagecoach representative."
NHS Highland was granted planning permission for the erection of a barrier-controlled bus and emergency service vehicle-only link between the estate from the hospital.
A similar application for the £2.71 million was rejected unanimously by Highland Council initially following a local outcry over the proposed felling of elderly trees to make way for the short route.
Discussions between parties resulted in a revised route which avoided the need for any elderly trees to be cut down, and Raigmore Community Council withdrew opposition.
The fact that the greener all-electric buses were to be used also helped the new link find favour locally.
