VIDEO: How the Inverness bypass is set to work
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THE final route for the western link of the Inverness bypass has been chosen.
Highland councillors have ignored the ground-swell of public support for a high-level bridge over the River Ness and Caledonian Canal — choosing today to go with a low bridge across the river and another swing bridge at the canal.
A simulation of how the complete Inverness bypass might look was released by Highland Council and published by The Inverness Courier’s website three months ago.
The animation shows how two swing bridges over the canal would work together to reduce traffic delays.
It was the only option out eight potential routes, ranging in price from £23.5 million to £75.5 million, which had a simulation that the council released publicly.
The selected option was recommended to full council by a working group set up to analyse the feedback of a six-week public consultation which ended in January.
Construction of the new road, which will cost £27.2 million, is not likely to begin for two years.
Council convener Sandy Park said it was affordable and Inverness provost Jimmy Gray thought it was the best solution.
The route will connect the A82 to Dores Road roundabout in an attempt to reduce traffic going through Inverness city centre.
> See Friday’s Courier for more.
