Early decision vital on Inverness West Link route

The Chairman of The Highland Council’s TEC Services Committee says an early decision is vital to allow work to start in 2014/15 on the Inverness City Trunk Road: West Link which will ease congestion in Inverness city centre, provide enhanced recreational facilities and permit the area to prosper.
 
Councillor John Laing, who  is also chairman of the cross-service working group examining the 8 options for the new link,  was speaking ahead of the last meeting of the working group tomorrow (Friday)  when members will recommend the preferred route for taking traffic from the southern distributor road at Holm Mains to the A 82 near General Booth Road via a crossing of the River Ness and the Caledonian Canal.
 
He has welcomed the support of the Inverness City Committee, who on Monday voiced their unanimous support for the Council making a decision at its meeting on Thursday 1 March to identify  a route, which was affordable and deliverable in technical and planning terms and provide the city with much improved  recreational provision in the West of the City.
 
Councillor Laing said: “Completing the West Link is vital in supporting the transport needs of Inverness and it is very encouraging to have the unanimous support of the Inverness City Committee for a long awaited decision to be made now on selecting the preferred option which will be taken forward to the detailed design stage.
 
“We are in a position to reach a clear recommendation at our meeting tomorrow (Friday) and then take this to the full council meeting on 1 March for determination.”
 
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