Inverness commuters set for delays over flood work

Bank Street in Inverness. Flood work will result in delays for commuters in the city centre. Picture: Rob Farrow

Motorists and businesses have been warned by Highland Council that the work will continue for an extra three months.

The decision means Bank Street will remain closed to traffic between Fraser Street and Friars Lane until May.

The council had planned to re-open Bank Street to through traffic between Ness Bridge and Academy Street next Monday to coincide with work starting on the second phase of the Kessock Bridge Resurfacing Project.

However, the River Ness Flood Alleviation and Streetscape Scheme has fallen behind schedule, mainly due to encountering large boulders on Bank Street.

To avoid summer peak working or further disruption at this time next year, continuation of the present closure provides an opportunity for flood wall construction and streetscaping features to be completed by early summer.

This also avoids summer working or extending the work into January or February next year.

A spokesman for Highland Council said: “This decision is based on the council`s understanding of the wishes of local businesses, which is to try and complete the flood alleviation and streetscape works as quickly as possible and to avoid the peak summer months. The city centre traffic movement is being constantly monitored and traffic light timings are being adjusted to assist traffic movement.

“If the closure of Bank Street during the Kessock Bridge works causes unacceptable delays in traffic movement, the council will, within 24 hours, lift the closure and reopen Bank Street to two- way traffic.”

On the opposite side of the river, Huntly Street is currently closed to traffic between Young Street and Greig Street and also between Celt Street and Balnain Street for flood wall construction. Works will continue in sections with phased closures between side streets until the works are complete.