A Highlands and Islands MSP has welcomed an investment in road safety in the city as work to install a second controlled crossing on a busy Inverness road gear up.
Ground works to install a second puffin crossing on the A82 Inverness to Fort William trunk road are due to get under way on Monday for six weeks as part of a combined investment to improve road safety in the area.
The crossing, between Montague Row and Ardross Street, close to Highland Council’s headquarters, forms half of a £130,000 project being delivered by Transport Scotland and Bear Scotland in the area.
The investment follows a local campaign appealing for improved road safety measures along the busy route.
Labour MSP David Stewart fronted the campaign following concerns from constituents three years ago.
He said: “I took up constituents’ concerns about road safety on this stretch of the road in March 2017.
“Transport Scotland said at first that a crossing there “could not be justified”. However, I joined local campaigners in not giving up and the agency then went on to find out the community’s views and changed its mind and I must congratulate Transport Scotland for that.
“It was good to recently see the first crossing completed at Smith Avenue and I look forward to the second being installed.
“I am sure these will improve safety for children crossing to school, for the elderly and the disabled.”
The six-week programme of work will include widening the footpaths, drainage works and fresh road markings ahead of the installation of the crossing point.
The work is expected to take place weekdays between 9.30am and 4pm, however disruption is expected overnight to cater for the completion of underground work.
A number of traffic management measures will also be put in place in the form of a three-way temporary traffic signals, footpath closures and safety procedures on site to safeguard the health of workers and the public.
The first puffin crossing on Glenurquhart Road was installed at Smith Avenue, near the Scotmid store, before being switched on in August; five months behind schedule.
Works on the project first began in January with hopes of phase one being completed by March, however, due to Covid-19, the project came to a standstill.
A Transport Scotland spokesman said: “Our Operating Company, BEAR Scotland, is scheduled to commence installation of the new pedestrian crossing next week, once other planned roadworks in the area are completed.
“The new puffin crossing, along with widened footways, will provide safer and better opportunities for pedestrians to cross the A82 – encouraging walking and wheeling in Inverness.”
The project forms part of a £400,000 programme of work being delivered in the area.
The work will comprise of improvements at Kenneth Street/Tomnahurich street signalised junction, bus stop alterations, traffic islands as well as build outs at various points along the length of the A82 from Telford Street roundabout to the Tomnahurich Bridge roundabout.
