Work is to begin on ground investigations as part of the £3 billion A96 Dualling programme.

Raeburn Drilling & Geotechnical Ltd will deliver two contracts totalling £3.1 million; one deal covers the stretch between Inverness and Gollanfield, while the other between Gollanfield and Auldearn.

Work will start on Monday, 26 June. The scheme is expected to last until November.


A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: "This ground investigation is needed to get important information on the existing ground conditions in the vicinity of the A96 between Inverness and Auldearn as we progress our plans to dual the road.

"Although the vast majority of the work will not require any traffic management, a small fraction of investigative work will take place beside the carriageway. We would thank road users and local communities in advance for their patience during any short duration traffic management operations which may be required as the works progress.

"The contractor will closely monitor the operation of the small amount of traffic management that is required to ensure that delays are kept to a minimum."

(LM/MH)