Ground investigations are underway on the A96 Nairn Bypass scheme, it has been announced.

Drilling works will take place at over 650 locations along the Inverness to Nairn route.

During the 20-week period, only six drilling sites will require traffic management on the existing A96, keeping disruption to a minimum.

The works will allow vital ground condition information to be collected by engineers designing the new route.

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Infrastructure Secretary Keith Brown said: "We are committed to dualling the whole of the A96 which links the northern cities of Inverness and Aberdeen. The work on this road scheme is moving apace with draft orders expected to be published later this year.

"Having recently let locals and road users see proposed changes to the preferred option for this scheme, we are now stepping up the work with ground investigations taking place along the route to help inform the final design.

"Hand in hand with this scheme, we are taking forward our plans for the 29 mile western section between Hardmuir and Fochabers with four well respected engineering consultancies or joint ventures in the running for the £50 million design contract. We hope to award this contract later this spring."

(LM/MH)