An Inverness city road closed to allow major floodworks to take place will reopen within weeks.
But the reprieve for commuters and businesses is only temporary, as after the busy tourist period Bank Street will be shut off again to traffic to allow the River Ness flo
But the reprieve for commuters and businesses is only temporary – as Bank Street will be shut off to traffic once again at the end of August to allow the River Ness flood alleviation scheme to continue.
The thoroughfare has been closed since September last year while the multimillion-pound scheme took place. The project, which is due for completion next year, includes the construction of walls along the riverside.
The works between Friars Bridge and Ness Bridge have been dogged by delays, especially when large boulders were discovered underground in Bank Street.
Now the road will open at the end of June for the summer, but will close again at the start of September before reopening at the end of November for Christmas trading.
Last night local business owner Hugh Nicol, who runs the Riverside Gallery in Bank Street, criticised the stop-start nature of the works.
He said: “I would just like to see the whole thing finished.
“When visitors come to the end of Bridge Street, they look down river and see a building site.
“We’re all frustrated.”
A Highland Council spokeswoman said: “The current proposed road closures include closures on Bank Street from September 1.
“The programme allowed closure in August – but the council in consultation with local business has decided to allow the closure to remain in place until the end of June and delay the re-closure until September 1 thus minimising disruption during the busy tourist period.
“The original planned closures were for 48 weeks, it is currently programmed to complete these road closure works within 47 weeks.
“Bank Street is due for completion in spring 2015 as was originally planned. Huntly Street was programmed to be undertaken during the full construction phase and works will carry on sequentially for completion in spring 2015.”