Pat Munro Construction has announced the completion of works as part of the Milton of Leys to City Centre cycle route in Inverness.

The new all-abilities surfaced pathway for pedestrians and cyclists links the pedestrian bridge on Inshes Road with Milton of Leys. The pathway is almost one mile long and winds through natural birch woodland and open rough grassland.

The contract to carry out the work was awarded to Pat Munro by Highland Council and has been funded through developer contributions from adjacent housing developments, together with a grant of £277k for phase 3 provided by Sustrans Scotland as part of their 'Places for Everyone Programme'. The programme seeks to to create safe, attractive, healthier places by increasing the number of trips made by walking, cycling and wheeling for everyday journeys and is funded by the Scottish Government through Transport Scotland and administered by Sustrans.

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Welcoming the completion, Cllr Duncan Macpherson, Independent Highland Councillor for the Inverness South Ward, said: "I am delighted to see the results of the finished footpath. I have walked over it in both directions and it's already proving popular with families and people of all ages and abilities, from cyclists, dog walkers, joggers, wheelchair users, parents with prams & pushchairs, to runners, and even people on scooters. I am glad that local Ward councillors insisted that it was finished with a smooth tarmac surface and also lit in the evenings with low level lighting, making it a great all year-round community facility. The benefits of enjoying parkland walks are obvious for improving health and well-being and helping all with mental health challenges, as we all found during the months of lockdown."

Alex Smith, Operations Director at Pat Munro added: "We started work on the project back in the spring and we are delighted to deliver the completed pathway. Now that it's open, local cyclists and pedestrians will be able to once again enjoy this green space along with many of the health benefits that the outdoor brings and hopefully encouraging people to consider alternatives to other less environmentally friendly modes of transport. We would like to thank residents, particularly those in Milton of Leys and Inshes, for their patience whilst their use of the previously informal route in this area was inhibited in order for us to create the formalised pathway."