The public are being asked by The Highland Council to have their say on five pragmatic options for providing a new transport link to the west of Inverness. The plan is to take traffic from the Southern Distributor Road at Dores Road to the A82 trunk road at Torvean via a fixed link across the River Ness and the Caledonian Canal.

All involve a bridge crossing of the River Ness and the construction of a second bridge across the canal to ensure that traffic flows continuously at all times with a permanent link.

Starting out with 90 alternatives and going through a process of examination on technical and environmental grounds, the 5 options arrived at are considered to be feasible and practical.

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The prospect of a tunnel has not been progressed because of very serious concerns expressed by Historic Scotland about any impact on the canal, either as an aqueduct or on the embankment. There are also issues concerning the impact of a tunnel on the River Ness flood plain, which makes this option totally impractical.

Affected landowners have received a letter from the Council setting out the options and a series of public meetings and displays of the project proposals will be held as follows:-

Tuesday 14 December - City Ward Forum: 7.30 pm in Charleston Academy

Wednesday 15 December - Daytime Exhibition: 11 am – 7 pm in Kinmylies Church:

Wednesday 15 December - City Ward Forum: 7.30 pm in Inverness Royal Academy

Thursday 16 December - Daytime Exhibition: 11 am – 7 pm in Culduthel Hall

Representatives from TEC Services of the Council will be in attendance at each exhibition to explain the proposals in greater detail and invite comments.

(GK)