Multi-million pound boost for Loch Ness roads

HAZARDOUS roads around a popular tourist spot at the south of Loch Ness are to be upgraded thanks to major electricity projects in the Highlands.

Remote road in Farigaig

Scottish Hydro Electric Tranmission (SHEt), part of Scottish and Southern Energy, has given a £3million boost to the infrastructure around Farigaig.

The transmission operator is currently working to provide a connection for two wind farms – Corriegarth and Dunmaglass.

Each wind farm will have its own substation which will connect to a new substation at Farigaig via sections of 132kV overhead line and 4km of underground cable.
SHEt spokesman Aravind Parayatam said the company has has pledged to improve the roads network for the local communities as they also upgrade roads to enable the work to take place.

He added: “As part of this project we need to transport two new super-grid transformers for the new Farigaig substation and to do this safely we knew improvements to the road had to be made.
“We were asked by the Highland Council to extend these improvements so we could benefit local road users too and improve their road safety for years to come.

“We want to make sure that while we live and work in the areas around this project we are always aware and considerate of others, and as we also want to give something back this was clearly the most beneficial thing for the whole community.
“Some of the local roads here are quite hazardous, so we’ll be building additional sections to widen them and provide improved passing places.”
Work on the Farigaig substation project was delayed through the summer months when further investigations to the local infrastructure and environment showed that Meadow Pipits were nesting near the site.

They and their chicks have successfully flown the nest and works are now back on track for completion in summer 2016.