The Highland Council has approved the final lay out drawings and authorised the submission of a planning application for the new road, marking a significant milestone in the project.

The West Link will be a new transport link 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.

In addition to the above, the Council also agreed to make a compulsory purchase order to acquire all of the land required for the route and senior officials have been authorised to advertise the order and take all necessary steps to obtain title to the land.

Negotiations or any claims for compensation and costs payable to owners, lessees and occupiers of the land required for the road will be undertaken by the District Valuer.

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The planning application and the CPO notice will be advertised towards the end of September.

The new road will be built in two phases. Phase one will be from Dores Road Roundabout to Glenurquhart Road, including the new crossing of the River Ness. It is still on programme and on schedule to commence construction in 2015.

Phase two will see the crossing of the Caledonian Canal, including the tandem bridge arrangements at Torvean.

At yesterday's meeting (5 September), members were advised that costs had increased from £27.2m to £34.4m due to the increase of inflation since the project was first priced in early 2011, as well as the enhancement of the design to include additional features for cyclists and walkers following consultation with the public. The estimated cost of other rejected options had increased similarly.

Council Leader Drew Hendry said: "I am delighted that we are making excellent progress with this key project and that we are on target to start work during 2015. The benefits for the city and the wider Highlands of a better road system to the west of the city which open up recreational and development opportunities are significant and too great to miss."

(JP/MH)