Highland Council launch £34m Inverness bypass plan

Highland Council has been debating an Inverness bypass for over 10 years. Picture: Complimentary

The new West Link would provide a new transport link from the Southern Distributor at Dores Road to the A82 trunk road via a fixed link across the River Ness and the Caledonian Canal.

The local authority has been debating the project for over a decade in a bid to ease the growing congestion problem in the centre of the Highland capital.

However, there has been strong opposition to the option which was controversially voted by councillors, as parts of the development will cover large parts of green space and recreational land.

The council will also be required to make Compulsory Purchase Orders in a bid to build the road and publication of these will follow towards the end of the month.

Opponents have sought a fixed link elsewhere along the river, or even a tunnel.

Highland Council has proposed creating new sports pitches and facilities as part of the West Link project. These could cost up to £9.5m to build, on top of the £34million for the road.

The application may be viewed by the public on the home page of the Council’s web site.

It can also be viewed at the Council’s Headquarters in Glenurquhart Road and the Inverness Planning Office at Kintail House, Beechwood Business Park.

The public has 28 days to comment/respond to the application.

It is expected that the application will be dealt with early in the new year.