Campaigners claim a “fish hook” bridge on the other side of the world could be a cheaper solution to the Inverness West Link road.
The Lower Hatea River Crossing in New Zealand opened in July this year, at a cost of around £16million.
The bridge, designed by High Wycombe-based Knight Architects, measures 869ft long and has an 82ft section which lifts to allow boats through.
John West, of Inverness Civic Trust, said that members of the campaign against the council’s chosen design for crossing the River Ness and Caledonian Canal are in contact with the English architects.
Campaigners have called for a direct high level bridge to be built between the Ness-side area and Torvean Quarry.
In the past, the council has claimed that this option would be too expensive. Estimates reported to councillors last month put the cost of a high bridge at around £77.5million.
The council’s chosen route including a second swing bridge over the Caledonian Canal at Tomnahurich and a low level bridge over the river to Ness-side is estimated at £34.3million.
However the cost of providing sports facilities to replace those affected by the work will cost £9.5million.
Mr West said: “The fish hook bridge is longer than required for the West Link and the New Zealand one is in a tidal section which would be more complicated than Inverness.”
Mr West said it was hoped a similarly innovative design could be created for the Highland capital. He added the architects had speculated a bridge could be constructed at around £20milion.
Mr West said: “The council said there was no realistic alternative proposed – we are trying to give one.”
Martin Knight, director of Knight Architects, said yesterday that his firm had asked for more details of landscape and conditions in Inverness.
Highland Council lodged its official planning application for the West Link earlier this week. A local authority spokesman said yesterday: “We went through an exhaustive process and the chosen route has the wholehearted support of the council.”