Kessock Bridge Resurfacing - Starts 11 February 2013
19th January 2013
The resurfacing works for the Kessock Bridge will start on 11 February and continue until 7 June. Everyone using the bridge whether once or regularly will need to plan for delays that are being stated will happen. Several steps are being put in place to mitigate the affects of the fact that only two lanes in contraflow will operate rather than the normal four lanes.
Leave plenty of time for your journey if you intend to cross the bridge especially at peak times. Consider public transport especially trains as these do not cross the road bridge. Car sharing or using buses will cut traffic and ease the congestion. The alternative route via Beauly is likely to be heavily used and delays are expected on that route at peak times due to the swing bridge.
Avoid peak hours if you possibly can and businesses should consider using off peak times for trucks and vans to avoid long delays.
Works
The resurfacing of Kessock Bridge, Inverness, is being carried out by Scotland Transerv on behalf of Transport Scotland (the Scottish Government agency responsible for the maintenance of the A9 and Kessock Bridge). The first phase begins on 11 February.
Background
The first phase of major works to resurface the Kessock Bridge will start on 11 February and continue until 7 June. During this time, the bridge will be reduced from four to two-lane contraflow operation and inevitably this will result in delayed travel at the start and end of the working day. The second major phase is planned between February to June 2014.
Mitigation works are ongoing in the Longman area and other traffic measures include the reopening of Conon Bridge railway station, as well as provision of additional car parking at Beauly and Dingwall railway stations. All are due to be completed by 11 February.
Public Transport
Many bus routes (e.g. Black Isle, North Kessock, Dingwall, Maryburgh and Conon Bridge, Alness and Invergordon, Tain and Seaboard Villages and Portmahomack) will see an increased service frequency, additional journeys during peak times or minor timing revisions to assist with reliability and to provide a more consistent frequency of service.
Stagecoach say they will also endeavour to duplicate popular journeys where demand exists and will be constantly monitoring services to ensure they can accommodate as many passengers as possible. Additional carriages on peak time train services will be provided by ScotRail.
Traffic Webcams
Additional webcams have been installed to help assess live traffic conditions that may assist in selecting a journey time. This information is available on Traffic Scotland’s website http://trafficscotland.org at Live Traffic Cameras - http://trafficscotland.org/livetrafficcameras/index.aspx?groupby=Region
Highland Council staff
The Council has asked the 900 staff who cross the bridge daily to consider helping ease congestion on the bridge at peak times by working from home or from an office nearer to their home and making alternative travel arrangements, such as public transport or car/lift share. These links to Travel Share and Lift Share may assist commuters with travel arrangements.
Travel share - http://ifyoucareshare.com/
Lift share - http://highland.liftshare.com/
Related Businesses
Related Articles
The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
On 27 November 2024 the Community and Places committee will consider a report on play parks in Highland. 94 play parks across Highland including 26 in Caithness are scheduled to close over 5 years.
The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
On Thursday the 21 November 2024, the Education Committee will be presented with an Education Trust Fund report that asks Members to approve the formation of an Education Trust Fund Sub Committee. There are significant funds held by The Highland Council in trust for the educational benefit within different communities.
At the Economy and Infrastructure Committee on Thursday 14 November 2024 councillors adopted an ambitious action plan to tackle biodiversity loss and support a nature-positive Highland. The Council's Ecology Strategy and Action Plan Strategy sets out and defines a series of key actions and activities that will assist the Council to deliver positive action to tackle biodiversity loss and start to address the ecological emergency for the benefit of its environment, economy, and communities.
The Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee have approved the rural Housing Supplementary Guidance which will now be used to inform all planning advice and decisions. Chair of the Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans said: "Following the decision by members today, I am pleased that we now have a positive, clear and consistent basis for considering and determining rural housing planning applications across the whole of the Highland Council area.
New guidance to support schools and organisations working with children and young people to develop comprehensive anti-bullying policies and improve behaviour and relationships has been published. ‘Respect for all' includes updates for staff on how to deal with specific incidents of bullying, including online bullying.
The Vice Chair of the Caithness Committee, Councillor Struan Mackie has expressed his delight at the number of worthwhile local projects that have benefitted from Ward Discretionary Funding in this financial year. All Council Wards receive a discretionary budget, and it is for Ward Councillors to consider what they wish to commit funds to, in line with Highland Council objectives and outcomes.
The Caithness Committee have agreed to adopt the modified Core Path Plans for Caithness. At their meeting yesterday members had the opportunity to discuss a report that summarised the review of The Highland Council Core Paths Plan in Caithness.
On Thursday 14 November 2024, Members of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee will be presented with a new Sustainable Tourism Strategy 2024-2030 and asked to note and agree recommendations which include adopting the new Sustainable Tourism Strategy. Also an agreement to amend the strategy to accommodate consultation feedback on the Visitor Levy Scheme.
