Council welcomes A 96 design work go ahead

The Highland Council has warmly welcomed the announcement by the Scottish Government that early design work for a major upgrade of the A 96 between Inverness and Nairn is under way. 

A £500,000 contract to identify the preferred solutions for dualling the A96, a new link connecting the A96 to the A9 south of Inverness and an A96 Nairn by-pass has been awarded to Jacobs Engineering UK Ltd and findings from this work are expected in Spring, next year. 

Councillor Sandy Park, Convener of The Highland Council said: “This is a major step forward in our long-running campaign to win major improvements to this key strategic route. The Council has identified the A 96 corridor for future growth of the Highlands and it is very important that we make early progress with the design.” 

Council Leader Michael Foxley, TEC Services chairman John Laing and Inverness Provost Jimmy Gray have been regularly meeting Scottish Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson to discuss priorities for spending on Highland roads. 

Councillor Foxley said: “I am very pleased at this breakthrough.  This highlights the importance of our ongoing dialogue with the Minister.   The improvements on the A 96 may still be some time away but it is hugely important that we undertake this crucial preparatory work now.”

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