Major Flood Works Start In Inverness On 29th October

18th October 2012

The first stage of the £24.75 million River Ness Flood Alleviation Scheme, Inverness, which will protect approximately 800 homes and 200 businesses in the city centre, starts on Monday 29 October.

Work will involve the diversion of gas, water, electricity and telecommunication services required to accommodate the first phase of the construction of folld defences on both sides of the river between the Ness Bridge and Friars Bridge.

A first contract, valued at £1.5 million, for the utility diversions has been awarded to Coffey Construction Ltd of Livingston. Site offices will be established at 16 Lotland Street, Inverness. The Highland Council's representative is Kevin Silverton. Tel 0755 774 442 email: RiverNessFAS[AT]highland.gov.uk

The first focus of work will be experienced on Monday 29 October when Bank Street is closed until 9 December to through traffic.

The full scheme is likely to take until April 2015 to complete. It attracted 80% funding from the Scottish Government. The Council met the balance.

The Council will work with the contractors to minimise inconvenience to the public, but recognises that traffic disruption in the city centre is unavoidable given the nature of the scheme. The public is urged to consider how the proposed works may affect their journeys during this period and consider alternative routes which may help ease pressure on the traffic system.

A summary of the proposed impacts of the utility diversions is as follows:

Huntly Street: Parking will be suspended, as required, for a period of time between 24 November and April 2013. Phased road closures between side roads will be required between November and April 2013 when access to through traffic will be suspended. Local diversions will be in place. Access for emergency services, blue badge holders, businesses and residences will be maintained.

Bank Street/Bridge Street Junction: To minimise disruption and to maintain two-way traffic movement across the Ness Bridge, overnight working will take place. This will involve approximately 3 nights of night time working presently planned for 19/20, 20/21 and 21/22 November.

Bank Street and Friars Lane (between Fraser Street and Academy Street): Bank Street (between the junctionof Friars Lane/Douglas Row and Fraser Street) and Friars Lane will be closed for a period between 29 October and 10 December. Diverrsion routes will be in place across Friars Bridge and Kennecth Street. Access to Church Street from Academy Street will be maintained at all times. Access to Douglas Row and Friars Street will be maintained for emergency services, blue badge holders, businesses and residences. Between 4 January and 10 February, next year, further work will be carried out in Bank Street and Friars Lane. It is currently envisaged that this will be carried out under traffic control measures and extra time should be allowed for using this route during this time.

Bank Street (beetween Fraser Street and Bridge Street): During the Bank Street/Friars Lane closure, access and egress only for busese, taxis and businesses will be maintained via Ness Bridge. Two way traffic will be reinstated on 10 December.

Douglas Row, Riverside Street, Friars Street and Glebe Street: Parking will be suspended, as required, until April, 2013 and road closures will be required between 29 October and 10 December and 4 January - 10 February to allow the necessary utility diversion works. Access for emergency services, businesses and residences will be maintained at all times.

Construction of the Flood Alleviation Scheme: Following completion of the utility diversion contract, works will commence on the construction of the flood walls, associated infrastructure and streetscaping. It is anticipated that works between Ness Bridge and Friars Bridge will follow on immediately from the utility diversion contract, with construction taking 18 months. During this time, works on the downstream section from Friars Bridge to Inverness Harbour will commence with planned completion in March 2015.

It is recognised that such works will also cause disruption and associated traffic management but this will be minimised as much as possible, and will publicised prior to each construction phase commencing.