A Speyside village will get a £2million upgrade this month – and residents will be able to inspect the ambitious plans when they go on display on Monday.
Aberlour High Street, a stretch of the A95 road, will undergo a series of renovations designed to improve drainage and surfacing, beginning on Monday, May 18.
The scheme will be exhibited at the village’s Old Station Tea Room on Monday from midday-7pm, and residents and business owners are being encouraged to air their views on the construction process and traffic management ideas.
Aberlour Community Association member John Milne said: “I welcome this work and I have been assured that contractors are doing all they can to minimise any disruption.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the end result of the improvement programme.”
Treatment systems in the High Street have been designed to stop untreated water entering the River Spey, and the existing footways and carriageways will be resurfaced to improve road safety and durability.
The works will be carried out over a 12-week period to minimise disruption, and lane restrictions will move along the route as the work progresses.
The renovations will primarily be carried out during the day, and it is thought resurfacing the road will cut down on traffic noise.
Bosses at the Aberlour Hotel have previously spoken out about noise levels from the ravaged roadway and a spokesman welcomed the decision to improve surfaces.
He said: “This has been needing done for a while so we welcome the decision to start this work.
“As a hotel we’re pleased that the noise will be reduced, and I’m sure our guests won’t be affected by the work as most of it will be done when they are out of the venue.”
Bear Scotland’s north-east representative, Andy Thomson, said: “This £2million investment by Transport Scotland will address historic flooding issues, but at the same time the opportunity is being taken to improve the footways along the High Street.
“We are hosting the public exhibition to share information about the anticipated programme of works, methods of construction, traffic management and how these will impact on the general public.
“We would encourage all stakeholders and members of the local community to attend on Monday to enable us to explain the programme of improvements and how we will manage the impact of the works.”
