28th January 2013
A number of permanent road improvements are being put in place ahead of the Kessock Bridge works starting in February.
Transport Scotland, which is investing £13.2 million to bring the 30-year-old bridge up to modern standards, has confirmed a number of changes to the surrounding road layout.
Drivers should be aware of the following changes:
• There will be new traffic lights in place at the Longman Roundabout (south of Kessock Bridge), Rose Street Roundabout and at the junction of Henderson Road/Longman Road.
• A dedicated bus lane will be put in place on the A9 south running from the south of Tore Roundabout to the Kessock Bridge.
• A dedicated southbound slip road will also be constructed from Stadium Road to the A9 south. Drivers should be aware this is for left hand turns only and right hand turns will not be permitted for cars.
• A dedicated bus lane will also be in place at Stadium Road approaching Longman Roundabout.
These permanent changes to junctions surrounding the bridge have been designed in conjunction with The Highland Council and are designed to reduce congestion, both during the works on the bridge and in the future.
All changes will be in place before the main repairs to the bridge begin on Monday 11th February. Drivers should also note that the contractor for the bridgeworks, Balfour Beatty, will start to place cones on the road from 10pm onwards on Saturday 9th February in preparation for the works commencing on Monday morning (11th February).
A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: “This major programme of repairs to the Kessock Bridge has been years in the planning and we have liaised closely with the local council to identify the best ways of minimising disruption.
“Extensive traffic modelling and advice from local roads officials found that improvements to nearby roads and junctions, together with measures to improve public transport, would be the most effective ways of reducing congestion.
“That said, there is no getting away from the fact that road works on the bridge will increase journey times noticeably so commuters should consider other means of transport if they want to avoid being stuck in traffic.”
The £13.2 million Kessock Bridge project will see extensive resurfacing and upgrading works carried out on the 30-year-old bridge between February and June 2013 and between February and June 2014.
Traffic restrictions will be in place during the works, with a reduced speed limit of 30mph on the bridge for the safety of motorists and the workforce. A contraflow system will be operational for 24 hours a day, providing one running lane of traffic in each direction across the bridge. Cones on the road will start to be placed from 10pm on Saturday 9th February.
Taking public transport is likely to get you into Inverness faster during these works and there will be additional capacity on both buses and trains from February. A local car-sharing scheme has been set up by Transition Black Isle, allowing people in and around Inverness to be matched up with commuters making the same journey.
A dedicated bus lane will allow buses to avoid the worst of the queues and Conon Bridge Station is being re-opened to increase access to the railway.
Special arrangements have also been put in place for emergency vehicles, following extensive consultation with police, ambulance and fire services in the area.
Emergency vehicles will be allowed to use the dedicated bus lane on the approach to the bridge and when required, will be escorted through the works if there is congestion.
For more details:
• See www.scotrail.co.uk for train timetable details (peak-time services will be doubled in capacity).
• For details of the enhanced bus timetable operating between the Black Isle and Inverness during the works, see www.stagecoachbus.com/highlands, call Stagecoach on 01463 233371 or email: highland.enquiries[AT]stagecoachbus.com
• For details of local car-sharing options, see www.highland.liftshare.com • Motorists driving in and around Inverness during the works can access up to the minute journey time information at www.trafficscotland.org.
The main works will involve removing the existing road surface, repairing any defects to the bridge steel deck plate, applying waterproofing to bridge steel deck plate and resurfacing both carriageways. Contractors will also replace the bridge deck expansion joints, replace the lighting columns, replace the safety fences in the central reserve and footways and resurface the footways and cycle-ways.