The ‘march of the cones’ mystery has been solved
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A LONG stretch of cones alongside the Inverness to Dores road has been puzzling passers-by over the past few weeks.
The large red and white cones were placed very close together beside the narrow strip that separates the B862 from the two-year-old cycle path between Torbreck junction and Scaniport, a distance of about 1.5 miles.
A call to Highland Council solved the mystery. Despite being fairly new, there have been drainage problems with the cycle path, and contractors have carried out work to resolve this. At the same time new grass turf was laid on the narrow strip between the cycle and pedestrian path and the road, which at times is very busy with commuters and visitors heading to and from Loch Ness.
It transpires that the long line of cones was to deter motorists who occasionally pull on to the cycle path and stop, damaging the strip between the road and the path. The idea is that the cones will keep the vehicles off the grass until it is properly established.
A council spokeswoman said: “Remedial works have been taking place to the path to address the drainage problems and also reinstate the grass verge. The cones are temporarily in place while the works are progressing to allow the turf to establish.”
The cones are expected to be removed today.
The strip of ground between the road and the cycle path has already been at the centre of controversy.
The cycle path designers originally had expensive kerbstones laid to help separate bikes from road vehicles, but there was an outcry from some motorists that this made the road too narrow for safety especially when two large vehicles met.
A council safety inspection by concluded the road was too narrow with the kerbing in place, and the blocks were ripped out at a cost of £135,000.
The cycle path was laid as part of the Great Glen cycle track.
Cycle route to Dores has exasperated some drivers, for while some welcome the path that keeps them out of the way of other vehicles, riders using faster road bikes continue to use the fairly narrow road which has some sharp bends and hidden dips.
Dores resident and former councillor for the area, Norrie Donald, said: “The drainage was a terrible mess with mud being washed into the pipes. The cones were to protect the new grass turfs until they took root, and we are all waiting to see if it works all right.
“The trouble is that this busy road is pretty narrow – I lost a wing mirror on it – and it will only take one bus or lorry having to pull in to the verge for the grass turfing to be ruined again.”
Mr Donald, a taxi driver, said he was pleased to see that a section of the Dores-Inverness road from Torbreck to the Holm roundabout had just been surface dressed.
He said: “When I was a councillor I had been shouting for ages for this bit of road to be sorted.
“The roadside was crumbling in
many places making it dangerous for cars and pedestrians. It is a great improvement.
“The Dores road is getting busier and busier but I don’t think widening it will be a priority these days.
“The trouble is that drivers are travelling too fast on parts where 20mph would be more appropriate.”
