Transport Scotland has announced a £1.8m injection to ease conjestion during the Kessock Bridge resurfacing works next year.

The £18m upgrade of Kessock Bridge will commence in February 2013 and will last until June 2013.

A second phase will take place the following year over the same period.

Efforts to reduce inconvenience to motorists are already being put into place, including a range of roads and public transport measures.

Extra seating capacity on trains and buses, additional car parking at Dingwall and Beauly stations, a dedicated bus lane and the re-opening of Conon Bridge Station are also being implemented.

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Work is also due to start next week on upgrading road junctions on the A9 and A82, specifically Longman and Rose Street roundabouts, Stadium Road and Henderson Road.

A statement from Transport Scotland said: "We are absolutely committed to minimising the disruption which these essential repairs to Kessock Bridge will cause and are confident that this combination of road improvements, increased train and bus capacity and, of course the re-opening of Conon Bridge Station, will help to do this.

"Improvements to junctions on the approach to the bridge will make a difference but it is also essential that we encourage motorists out of their cars and on to public transport and the additional train and bus capacity agreed with Stagecoach and First ScotRail will allow for this.

"We all have a part to play and I would encourage both individuals and employers to start thinking about what they can be doing to avoid driving into Inverness during peak times."

(IT)