Arterial routes in Inverness will see increased maintenance funding this year after city councillors approved an amended roads programme for the coming year.
The councillors argued in their February area meeting that certain city roads, particularly arterial routes, were more heavily used than other routes, and should be funded accordingly.
After a seminar to discuss priorities, the area’s £830k budget has been tweaked to see a greater percentage of funding directed towards arterial roads in the city and an enhanced surface dressing programme to be undertaken by the in-house roads team.
More than £337,000 will be spent on 24 surface dressing projects, with more than £331,000 on 10 resurfacing projects and £165,000 on footway and kerbing works.
Roads officers said it would take 500 years to re-surface all 633 miles of roads in Inverness.
They agreed to look into ways of borrowing against revenue to yield up to £800,000 to bring future work into this year, after a proposal by Inverness South councillor Andrew Jarvie.
Mr Jarvie said: “There are some roads where the repair cost is quadrupling each year, so it makes sense to borrow now at under 2% to prevent costs spiralling.”
Mr Jarvie also asked for the council’s redesign board to review the roads material costs to reduce the £10m annual tar bill.
He said: “Given that we are the largest purchaser in Highland, there must be room for healthy savings, even 5% would give £500k.”
Councillors and officers expressed common frustration at the poor state of Academy Street, estimated at £250,000 to repair, with more needed for the pavements.
Inverness central councillor Janet Campbell said: “We keep being told we can’t move on the repairs because of projects about to happen and now we’ve been told there will be at least a three year wait.
“Couldn’t something be done about the lower part of the street, where AI Welders is, at least?”
City manager David Haas said many projects were impacting on Academy Street, but he would take the concerns back to Stuart Black, the council’s director of environment and infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Inverness South councillor Duncan Macpherson highlighted the damage caused on his ward’s roads by timber transporters.
Officers agreed to investigate potential timber transport compensation funds for the area.
Councillors will continue to press for a review of the current formula used across the Highlands for allocating road funding.
