Major roadworks have been postponed and parking will be free to make sure the Highland capital stays open for business and visitors in the wake of a huge fire.
The local authority and development agency HIE have teamed-up to try to ease the pressure on traders affected by a blaze which has left key city-centre routes shut.
Two shops were destroyed in the fire in Academy Street earlier this week and it has had a knock-on effect for other businesses.
Highland Council has produced a map to try to help motorists navigate their way through the city centre while roads remain closed and announced that parking will be free at its Rose Street multi-storey throughout the weekend.
Work had been due to start on the Millburn Road “bus gate” route on Monday – but the start of the eight-week project has been delayed for seven days.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) persuaded the contractors to delay the roadworks until April 27.
Academy Street will remain closed to traffic until Monday at the earliest because of concerns about the stability of the M&Co shop, which was destroyed in Wednesday night’s fire along with the RD’s Health and Beauty Salon on the floor above.
A number of other routes in the city centre will also remain closed to vehicles until Monday as efforts to make the damaged building safe continue.
A council spokesman said: “We are aware of the difficulties people have driving around the city centre at the moment, so thought making the car park at Rose Street free for users over the weekend would benefit local businesses and people wanting to spend time in the city centre.”
Mike Smith, manager of business promotion group Inverness Bid, said: “These are two very good pieces of news for the city centre.
“Highland Council opening the car park for free is a strong message that the city centre is open for business is usual.
“Delaying the work on Millburn Road is also a very encouraging and is a welcome move from HIE.”
He added that he had been encouraged by the response of shoppers since the fire.
He added: “It’s been busy, most businesses are open as usual and people are rallying round and using their city centre.”
Stewart Nicol, chief executive of Inverness Chamber of Commerce, said that he hoped the Millburn Road works were far enough out of town not to exacerbate the city-centre problems.
He added: “On a wider note, with Bank Street still closed for flood works on top of the work on Academy Street, it emphasises the insufficient infrastructure in the city to cope with unexpected circumstances.”
Although there is traffic disruption, all city centre streets, including Queensgate, are open to pedestrians apart from the safety zone immediately around the burned-out building.
Academy Street is closed to vehicles between Union Street and Margaret’s Street.
Motorists approaching the city centre from Millburn Road or Crown Road will have to find another way across the town.
Buses, delivery vehicles and taxis will be allowed to enter Union Street before moving on to Church Street, down Fraser Street and on to Bank Street.
Traffic approaching Academy Street from the Chapel Street end will be directed to turn right on to Friars Lane to reach Church Street then left on to Post Office Lane and then left again on to Academy Street.
When it is completed, the “bus gate” will allow coaches to access King Duncan’s Road and link to the developing Inverness Campus across the new pedestrian Golden Bridge over the A9.