Work is finally underway to repair damage done by a landslide to a main Highland road, more than three-and-a-half years ago.
Traffic lights with single lane traffic have been delaying motorists since the landslide at Glen Gloy near Spean Bridge on the A82 Inverness to Glasgow road.
The £1,000,000 contract which will see major repairs and improvements.
Transport Minister Derek Mackay visited the site near Spean Bridge to mark the beginning of the project, which will remedy the damage done to the bank supporting the road.
The complex engineering scheme will see 0.2 miles of the road realigned uphill and two bends taken away to improve driving conditions.
Stewart Maclean of the A82 Partnership – a campaign group fighting for improvements to the road – said: “The A82 Partnership welcome this investment in the A82 and looks forward to the removal of this set of traffic lights which have been in place for over three years but note that this section of road is recommended by Traffic Scotland for a reduction to a 50mph speed limit from its present national limit of 60 mph.
“It is difficult, therefore, to reconcile this speed reduction proposal with the statement from Transport Scotland that these works will ‘see a significant improvement in the A82’. The A82 Partnership continue to work towards an upgraded A82 from Glasgow to Inverness which is an agent for economic growth for the West Highlands and Islands and not, as at present, a deterrent to growth.
“This upgrade will require a multi-million pound investment and a commitment from the Scottish Government similar to their commitment to the A9 and the A96.”
Transport Minister Derek Mackay said: “A great deal of preparation has been done in advance of today and Transport Scotland and its contractors have been working hard to find a way of carrying out this improvement project without having to completely close the road.
“They have achieved that goal and the area will remain open for business during construction, with the A82 back to full running ahead of the summer tourism season.”