Plans for the preferred option for the A96 Inverness to Nairn dualling scheme are to go on public display, Transport Scotland has confirmed.

The proposals will allow the local community, businesses, road users and those affected by the scheme to view and comment on the designs.

The exhibitions will be held in Nairn (3 October), Auldearn (6 October) and Inverness (7 October).

Welcoming the events, Transport Minister Keith Brown said: "The Scottish Government has given a clear commitment to dual the A96 by 2030, delivering around 86 miles of upgraded road between Inverness and Aberdeen.

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"Dualling the route is a significant undertaking which requires careful, in-depth planning and design to ensure that we deliver the right scheme to help tackle congestion and provide better journey time reliability and road safety for all users.

"As a signal of that commitment, we are now providing locals and road users the opportunity to view the preferred option for the 30 km Inverness to Nairn including Nairn Bypass scheme."

A design consultant is expected to be appointed to the scheme in early 2015 to develop the preferred option, with plans to publish draft orders for the scheme in 2016.

(JP/IT)