The six-week scheme is expected to get underway in March.
Transport Minister Humza Yousaf said: "We continue to progress the design and assessment work for a single carriageway road connecting Inshes and Smithton in Inverness as part of the Scottish Government's commitment within the £315 million Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal.
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"This ground investigation contract will help inform the design work for this new link road in the Highland capital having identified the preferred option last October.
"The work is expected to start next month with the vast majority of the work taking place off the line of any existing roads in the area, ensuring the need for traffic management is kept to a absolute minimum.
"Road users and local communities will be kept informed of our plans and we will endeavour to ensure that any disruption is kept to a minimum."
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