Contractors will begin work in Dingwall tomorrow as Highland Council moves towards creating additional areas designated as spaces for people.
A number of temporary traffic orders will come into place to allow for the active travel routes to be implemented, with many streets’ speed limits dropping to 20mph.
Highland Council received £752,954 from the Scottish Government which has been allocated to delivering a series of active travel routes across the region in response to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Over the coming weeks and months, streets across the Highland will be adapted to give more space to people using wheelchairs, walking and cycling.
The first improvements in Dingwall will take shape from tomorrow with 20mph zones to be implemented as signs have already been erected around the town.
Highland Council has said the lowered speed limit will become active as of 6am on Friday.
From that point, the newly implemented speed limit will be legally enforceable by authorities.
Routes affected include Achany Road, part of the Back road, Castle Street, Kinnardie Avenue, Peffery Road, and a section of the A834 Strathpeffer Road.
Councillor Graham Mackenzie, who lives in Dingwall, said: “Anything that makes the streets safer and in particular around our schools. We have got two of the largest schools in Highland within half a mile of each other so if this is going to make it safer for entrance and egress from schools then it is a good thing.
“Hopefully this will make it safer for people in the town.
“This has been in the offing for a while and the fact that it is a temporary measure it gives ample time for it to be tested and will allow us all an opportunity to see how this goes and react accordingly.”
Highland Council has said it will keep the situation under review over the course of the next 18 months and will only revoke the order if it considers that the restrictions are no longer necessary.
Work has begun in Dingwall after Highland Council opted to roll out the first projects in Inverness last week.
The improvement of paths around Raigmore Hospital was one of the first projects to get underway.
