Roadworks worth £335,000 will be carried out this week to improve safety along a notorious Moray road.
A resurfacing programme along the A96 Aberdeen to Inverness route, between the Urquhart and Loch Oire junction and Lhanbryde, will be carried out overnight this week.
Transport Scotland believes the initiative will boost safety on the busy trunk route “for years to come”.
And Fochabers Lhanbryde councillor Douglas Ross welcomed the move, while noting that a recent accident on the stretch highlighted the need for increased safety measures.
In February, a 29-year-old German tourist was airlifted to hospital after a head-on crash, which happened at the Urquhart and Loch Oire junction.
The 23-year-old female he was travelling with, along with the two occupants of the other car, who were both also in their 20s, were taken to hospital by ambulance.
Mr Ross said: “This has long been identified as a dangerous stretch of road, which was confirmed with the accident there in February and many near misses before that.
“I welcome the fact that something is being done to improve safety.”
The work will take place across a stretch of the road which measures just more than half a mile.
Resurfacing efforts will be carried out each night from 7.30pm until 6.30am the following morning, with the programme expected to be completed by 6.30am on Saturday.
Roads bosses have implemented a 10mph convoy system of traffic management along the affected stretch of road while the work is taking place.
Some minor restrictions will be applied to the side roads during the resurfacing works, however these will be signed in advance to inform motorists.
Roads authority Bear Scotland has encouraged drivers to take the programme into account when planning their journeys.
The organisation’s north-east representative, Andy Thomson, said: “The resurfacing will upgrade the existing road surface, meaning a smoother and safer journey for motorists.
“We’ve scheduled these works to take place overnight to minimise disruption as much as possible whilst we carry out these improvements.
“However, we would encourage motorists to plan their journeys in advance and leave a little extra time for their journey.”
Real-time journey planning information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org or via the group’s Twitter feed, @trafficscotland
