Work has started on a new cycle route from the Inverness Campus at Beechwood to the city centre.

The Millburn Road Cycle Project will cost £733,000 and is expected to form part of the link from the new Inverness Campus and the new A9 overbridge in the east, through Raigmore Housing Estate to Millburn Road. It would then continue to the city centre.

Coffey Construction has been appointed to carry out the 18-week scheme which has been made possible due to funding from the Highland Council, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Sustrans, HITRANS and other developers.

Councillor Jimmy Gray, Convener of The Highland Council, said: "I'm delighted to see work has started on what will be an important access route for both cyclists and pedestrians to get into and out of the heart of the city. It's designed to provide a safe environment which I hope will encourage more people to consider active travel as an alternative to car travel."


Councillor Ian Brown, Inverness City Leader, and a Councillor for the Millburn Ward, added: "The Council is working towards reducing the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases which are being released into the atmosphere through the Carbon CLEVER initiative and the target is to have a carbon neutral Inverness in a low carbon Highlands by the year 2025."

Councillor Drew Hendry, Leader of The Highland Council, commented: "Creating the Millburn Road Active Travel Corridor is key to achieving this ambitious target that will result in many benefits including less air pollution, a healthier population, more accessible services, stimulated growth and improved infrastructure for our city."

In addition to the above, the local authority has confirmed that work to install cycle lockers and electrical charging points for the Carbon CLEVER cycles project will get underway next week at the Council's Headquarters on Glenurquhart Road and at Falcon Square.

(JP/CD)