New link in chain of cycling and walking route by Beauly
People walking and cycling celebrated today with the official opening of a new path alongside the A862 Inverness – Beauly road.
The new path extends the existing route from Lovat Bridge, linking from Dunballoch up to the junction to the A833. It was funded by Transport Scotland’s Active Travel Infrastructure Fund, with design work carried out by The Highland Council and construction by Dingwall-based Strath Civil Engineering. The project was completed within time and slightly under budget.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said: “I’m pleased that the Beauly Road active travel route is now officially open. Nearly £600,000 pounds from the Scottish Government has enabled The Highland Council to create this new walking, wheeling and cycling route.
“This is all part of our Active Travel Transformation Programme, a new model of delivery for our council partners, which aims to make it faster and simpler to realise their ambitious active travel infrastructure projects. For our health, wellbeing and climate, the Scottish Government will continue to invest in active travel to bring about similar improvements across the country.
“Having just visited Inverness last week, it’s clear that this latest milestone builds on the many projects underway which make it easier for more people to choose active and sustainable transport and it’s great to see this continued progress.”
Councillor Ken Gowans, Chair of the Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee said: “Walking, wheeling and cycling for everyday journeys is good for our health, good for our pockets and good for the environment. Highland Council is committed to making it easier and safer for walking, wheeling and cycling to be a realistic choice for more people, more of the time, for more of their trips. We continue to do our very best to secure funds to progress the design and construction of a number of projects across the area, in a very competitive funding environment.”
Ged Church, from Aird Community Trust, a long-term campaigner for cycling route improvements, said: “We are delighted to see this new stretch of path open and are really enjoying the smooth surface and the separation from traffic. Every new path which goes in is a cause for celebration! This opens up new trip options for local residents who can’t drive, or wish to drive less, or simply love being out on their bike, walking or running. It is an important step in achieving our long-term ambition of seeing an active travel route between Beauly and Inverness.”
The Highland Council hopes to secure funding for construction of the section from the A833 junction along to the junction with the Cabrich minor road in the next financial year, subject to planning permission, along with further improvements to the route between Beauly and Lovat Bridge.