A 7-week period of public consultation period begins today (Tuesday 16 April 2013) on the detailed design of the £27.2 million Inverness West Link Road as well as the Draft Development Brief for the Torvean/Ness-side areas of Inverness.
Tomorrow (Wednesday), plans for the road and the draft development brief will be on show at a public exhibition/drop-in session at Kinmylies Church (10am till 8pm).
On Thursday (18 April), the plans will be available at Culduthel Christian Centre (10am till 8pm).
The deadline for comments is Friday 31 May.
It is planned that the final road scheme will be taken to The Highland Council’s City of Inverness Area Committee on Monday 12 August for approval to enable submission of the planning application and road traffic orders by late August.
This video simulation shows the route, which follows a sweeping alignment along the river bank from Dores Road Roundabout to cross the River Ness at the Precast Yard/Weir. Thereafter the link road will follow the toe of the Caledonian Canal embankment to a tandem canal bridge arrangement at Tomnahurich.
The development brief sets out plans to create a major sports/recreational hub at Torvean, the relocation of Torvean Golf Club, the opportunity for a major marina at the canal and almost 2,000 new homes, including 300 affordable homes.
Council Leader Councillor Drew Hendry has commended both the road design and the development brief and urged the public to have their say.
He has stressed the cost of the West Link would be funded from the Council’s Capital Budget – and not from the Inverness Common Good Fund.