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/