City Centre Streetscape Project: Programme Update Union Street and Church Street

The Highland Council and their contractor ROK Civil Engineering are notifying City centre businesses and members of the public that carriageway resurfacing works within Union Street and Church Street will commence on Monday 24 November 2008.

The resurfacing works, which are part of the City Centre Streetscape Project, will take place over a period of 5 to 10 days. During this period it will be necessary to close Union Street and mid Church Street to all traffic. Although the target completion date is close of play Wednesday 3 December, ROK hope to complete ahead of time.

This work was originally programmed for the end of the contract but during the construction of recent works the deteriorating condition of the existing surfacing within Union Street and Church Street became a matter of concern.

The Council and Project Management team have agreed to bring forward the carriageway resurfacing works and replace the existing surface, as a matter of urgency. Delay of work may result in significant failure of the road surface.

It is intended to complete the carriageway resurfacing works in advance of the return of the buses to Union Street at the beginning of December. Proceeding with these works now will minimise further disruption to bus services, residents and traders that could have been experienced next year if the works were left as in the original programme.

During the construction period small delivery vehicles will use Bank Lane with any larger vehicles using Queensgate. Offloading and delivery assistance will be provided if requested. Pedestrian access along Union Street and mid Church Street will be unaffected.

The Highland Council and ROK apologise for the inconvenience this causes during a particularly important trading time for businesses but hopes that the public will appreciate the necessity to act promptly.