The Highland council has announced that the next phase of the Riverside Way project in Inverness is set to get underway.

City Leader, Cllr Ian Brown, joined representatives from SUSTRANS to walk around the site for the next phase of works.

The ambitious project aims to improve active travel provision along Ness Walk and Bught Road for those walking, wheeling, and cycling along the corridor.

Following a competitive tender process which took place between July and September this year, the contract for works has been awarded to Wills Bros Civil Engineering Ltd. The starting date on site will be 30 October 2023 and works are expected to take place over a period of five months.

Design work for the project was funded by the 'Places for Everyone' initiative, which is administered by Sustrans. The Highland Council worked with consultants Aecom to create technical designs for proposed works which will further develop the Inverness City Active Travel Network.

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Commenting after the site visit, the City Leader Ian Brown said: "It was good to be able to show our guests what has been achieved so far and what the next phase of works will involve. I am looking forward to work starting next week as it represents a significant improvement to the active travel environment along one of our city’s popular and most iconic routes, which is frequented by thousands of local people and visitors alike throughout the year.

Director at Sustrans Scotland, Karen McGregor, said: "The Riverside Way is not only a scenic leisure route for local residents, visitors, and commuters but is also a key connection into the Inverness City Centre. The improvements set to get underway next week will build upon the success of the Inverness City Active Travel Network and further help make walking, wheeling, and cycling journeys accessible and enjoyable for everyone."

The Inverness Active Travel Network is delivered by The Highland Council with the support of Transport Scotland, through Sustrans’ Places for Everyone programme. Transport Scotland also provided support for the creation of a one-way vehicular route with cycle contraflow and the widening of footways along the Riverside Way as part of a wider package of measures to help people physically distance throughout the pandemic.

Construction of a permanent scheme is funded through the Places for Everyone programme and will consolidate these changes with widened footpaths, a segregated cycle contraflow lane, formalised parking arrangements, and changes to junction layouts across the extents of the project area. Improvement works will be carried out between the Highland Hospice and Whin Park and will include lighting upgrades to the area.