Strategic Timber Transport Scheme - C1029 Camster Public Road Improvements To Begin In November

9th November 2023

The Highland Council is pleased to announce that the first of the 2023/24 timber transport projects has been completed.

The southern approach to the B9090 Howford Bridge has been widened with associated embankment, retaining wall and ancillary works. The project is a continuation of improvements on the B9090 to reduce the impacts of timber transportation. This project will improve 330m of road on the southern approach to the Howford bridge through strengthening and widening. Currently timber lorries en-route to Gordons sawmill in Nairn can have difficulty passing other traffic. This road is estimated to service 1,400,000 tonnes of timber transport over the next decade, and the project has the support of the community council. The cost is £350,000 with £245,000 from the timber fund.

Chair of the Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Cllr Ken Gowans said: "The Council appreciates the continued investment in our Highland road network by the Strategic Timber Transport Scheme fund, which is administered by Scottish Forestry on behalf of the Scottish Ministers.

"Funding through the scheme helps us to carry out projects, such as this one, to improve rural infrastructure and reduce the impact of timber haulage on local communities."

He added: "We would like to acknowledge the co-operation of the Dowager Countess of Cawdor in the delivery of this project."

Under the 2023/24 Strategic Timber Transport Scheme, Scottish Forestry has provided grant funding totalling £535,000 for three improvement schemes in Highland. Work on the other two schemes is not yet completed.

C1144 Tomdoun Public Road Improvements - ditching, passing place improvements and culvert replacement works ongoing. Expected to be completed by the end of November.
This project, which is co-funded by SSE and two forest owners, will undertake improvements over 12km of the C1444 to Tomdoun through resurfacing and localised widening. This will enable timber transport from several landlocked forests. This road is forecast to carry 32,000 tonnes of timber over the next decade. The cost is £300,000 with £150,000 from the timber fund.

C1029 Camster Public Road Improvements - not yet commenced due to another scheme by a public utility diverting traffic over the site. Expected to start in November.
These works will improve 3,000m of weight-restricted road through resurfacing and adding passing places. This will allow harvesting access to two landlocked forests which are to be restored to peatland. The road is forecast to carry 32,000 tonnes over the next decade. The cost is £200,000 with £140,000 from the Timber fund.

PHOTO
Shows the Howford Bridge project completed