A short section of a road in Strathpeffer is to be closed for three weeks so essential work to renew the main sewer in the spa town can be carried out.
During this period, there will be no road access between Dingwall and Contin through Strathpeffer. All through traffic will be diverted via the A835 Ullapool Road.
The first section of the project, to be carried out on Scottish Water’s behalf by amey-Black and Veatch (aBV), involves rebuilding a manhole beneath the A834 at the bottom of Garden House Brae, between the Square and the primary school.
Scottish Water said there was a need to close the A834 to traffic for up to three weeks from Monday, January 22.
Road access to the primary school, medical practice and community centre will be from the Contin side of the works only, but pedestrian access will be maintained throughout.
A school bus drop-off point will be operating from the rear of the Highland Hotel, from where there is access via footpath to the primary school and other community facilities.
The village centre will be accessible from Dingwall and businesses will be open as usual.
For the duration of the work, the 27 bus will depart from the Square via Dingwall and Maryburgh to Inverness and back, in line with its usual timetable.
To ensure a connection to Contin, an additional shuttle service will also operate from Strathpeffer via Contin to Maryburgh.
Scott Heath, senior project manager for aBV, said: “We recognise that the need to close the A834 will cause disruption. Unfortunately, at this location there is no other way to complete the work that is needed safely.
“We are very grateful for the community’s input over the last year while we have been planning this work.
“As a result of those discussions, the timing of the work has been carefully chosen to reduce the impact on the local community and businesses as far as possible – particularly by avoiding the build-up to Christmas, the annual Strathpuffer event and the peak tourist season.
“Our team will endeavour to complete the phase of work that requires the road closure as quickly as we can – and we are putting mitigation measures in place to help minimise the inconvenience for residents in the meantime.”
