Calls have been made for urgent talks between Highland Council and police after a clash of high profile events caused gridlock in Inverness.
The city was brought to a standstill as thousands of visitors made their way to the Black Isle Show and the Belladrum Tartan Heart music festival at Kiltarlity.
The situation was made worse by competitions in the 2015 World Orienteering Championships taking place in Glen Affric, with some motorists reportedly taking more than three hours to cross Inverness.
Many main routes were jammed for several hours on Thursday at the height of the problem.
Last night, Inverness Provost Councillor Helen Carmichael called for the local authority and the police to meet to discuss what happened.
She said: “We need to try and find out what can be learned from the experience and what we can do to ensure that it doesn’t happen next year.”
Mrs Carmichael added: “I think it proves the point that we need the West Link road. It would have taken some of the traffic from the A96 out of the city centre.
“It would have helped ease the situation.”
She said that despite the traffic problems, the events had provided a timely boost to tourism in the Highlands.
As well as the Black Isle Show, thousands of people attended the Moy Game Fair, south of Inverness, on Friday and Saturday, and the Celebration of the Centuries at Fort George.
The Belladrum Tartan Heart Music Festival was hailed a success last night by organisers as the huge-clean-up operation began.
Police praised revellers and revealed there had been only a handful of arrests.
The addition of an extra night at the family-friendly festival this year is thought to have contributed to the volume of traffic, but organiser Joe Gibbs said the innovation would continue.
He also said his team would look at the possibility of opening up the campsite earlier to encourage more people to arrive earlier and prevent snarl-ups.
Mr Gibbs said that changing dates to avoid the Black Isle Show was not an option.
He added: “I do not think that blame lies in any particular area. Overall, it was the weight of traffic using an elderly road system in an area where the population has expanded significantly.”
Meanwhile, police said just six people were arrested in connection with alleged assaults, disorder and drug supply.
One person is expected to appear at Inverness Sheriff Court today.
Officers also said that a number of small drug seizures were made and reports would be sent to the procurator fiscal.
Yesterday morning, revellers were also offered voluntary drink-drive tests to check they were safe to get behind the wheel under the lowered alcohol limit.
Inspector Jill Moss, the deputy event commander, said: “I would like to thank the 20,000 festival goers who attended the Belladrum site over this three-day event for their good natured approach, which made this weekend a great success.
“There were low levels of crime and this did not disrupt the running of the event which was supported by a number of agencies.”