Workers will begin a £30,000 scheme to boost safety at a notorious north junction today.
New safety barriers will be created at the Skiach junction, which has become an accident hotspot on the A9 Inverness to Thurso road.
Existing barriers will also be enhanced at the spot where the A9 meets the B9176 Struie road.
A 63-year-old man died at the spot last July following a three-car pile-up and residents have been campaigning for new safety measures to prevent more fatalities.
Bear Scotland has announced strict physical distancing protocols will be in place to ensure the safety of road workers and motorists during the project.
Over the course of the coming months, further enhancements on the junction will be undertaken with new road signs being installed.
Work to install the barriers is expected to last for two weeks.
Councillor Mike Finlayson said: “Anything that will help safety at this junction will be very good and we are thankful this work is beginning.
“This has been a long term concern of the community, and it is something that is going to improve matters.
“We will keep a close eye on progress but I am hopeful this will make a difference.”
Caithness, Sutherland and Ross MSP Gail Ross said: “For too long it has been an accident blackspot and hopefully these improvements will help to drastically reduce the number of incidents we have seen in the past.”
Highlands and Islands MSP, David Stewart, a long time road safety campaigner, added: “It is a tragedy when someone loses their life in a car accident and my thoughts go to the family and friends of man who died there last year and to those injured.
“However, it’s good to see this essential project going ahead with new safety barriers and signs and I do hope that this will prevent serious accidents in the future.”
Eddie Ross, Bear Scotland’s north west representative, said: “Road safety is a top priority at Bear Scotland and Transport Scotland, and this scheme on the A9 at Skiach is part of our commitment to improving road safety on the trunk road network, ensuring it remains safe and reliable.
“We’ve arranged for these works to take place whilst emerging from the Covid-19 lockdown, when traffic flows are lower, however, our teams will do all they can to complete the project as quickly and as safely as possible.”
