Traffic chaos fears as busy city junction closes for roadworks
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TRAVEL chaos beckons for motorists as one of the city’s busiest junctions is set to close next weekend.
The interchange between Kenneth Street and Tomnahurich Street will be shut from September 15-17 for a second phase of works by Scottish Water.
Diversions will be in place, but residents in Dalneigh may have to brace themselves as popular rat-runs are likely to become busier.
The first day of the works will coincide with the Òran Mòr open-air concert at the Northern Meeting Park next Saturday. The culmination of the annual Blas Festival celebration of Gaelic culture, it is expected to feature up to 1000 young singers attending with their families to perform alongside professional musicians.
The latest outing for the hugely popular Funbox children’s theatre troupe – successor to the Singing Kettle – is likely to draw huge numbers to Eden Court next Saturday and Sunday as well.
Despite this, Scottish Water says the work – to replace old valves – is essential to protect the "security" of the water supply to Ballifeary and Dalneigh.
There have been previous concerns about motorists using narrow roads through Dalneigh as rat-runs to avoid Kenneth Street, making them hazardous for local residents.
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP David Stewart said this could well be the case when work gets under way next weekend.
"Transport Scotland advise that diversions will be signposted via General Booth Road and the West Link, but as we all know there will be drivers who will come up with their own plan for dealing with this road closure which will involve utilising a few side streets, all of which are likely to be residential," he said.
"I personally wish that such works on major road infrastructure could be undertaken at night time, with roads being opened, albeit under restrictions, through the daylight hours.
"However, if this clearly is not an option, then I would ask motorists to either utilise the diversion routes or stay away from this area during the road closure times."
Inverness Central councillor Bet McAllister admitted drivers would face significant difficulties, but agreed with Scottish Water that the work was necessary.
"If the last time it was shut is anything to go by, it’s going to be a nightmare," she said.
"The work needs to be done but it is going to cause serious problems for people travelling in the area."
Arthur Cormack, chief executive of the Blas Festival, said it was "unfortunate" that roadworks could affect access to the Òran Mòr event and advised those attending to leave themselves plenty of time to get there.
The works will come hot on the heels of disruption for drivers in the Cradlehall and Westhill areas as the Inshes bridge, which leads to the Inshes Roundabout, is closing for four nights.
The road will be shut from 6.30pm-6.30am Monday and Friday as part of ongoing works to widen the road.
The first stage of the work in Kenneth Street and Tomnahurich Street was completed between August 27 and 31 and included measures to reduce traffic to single file.
However, the second phase requires the entire junction to be closed.
Scottish Water project manager Ailsa Shaw said: "Careful preparations have been made over the last six months for this essential work to take place with as little disruption as possible – including the identification of the weekend of September 15 and 16 in consultation with Highland Council, the trunk roads authority, local elected representatives and other stakeholders.
"During this phase of work, diversions will be clearly signposted for traffic using the A82, via General Booth Road and Muirtown and via the West Link road and Sir Walter Scott Drive."
