MOTORISTS were blamed yesterday for not taking enough action to prevent rush-hour delays while the Kessock Bridge is being refurbished.
Highland Council leader Drew Hendry warned that if drivers were not prepared to “adjust their behaviour”, they would simply have to put up with the snarl-ups.
Mr Hendry spoke out as motorists faced a second day of misery on the Inverness bridge as measures to ease lengthy delays failed to make an impact.
There were long queues again on the southbound approach to the bridge yesterday morning – the second day of the major resurfacing project – with many drivers being delayed by up to an hour.
Mr Hendry added his voice to calls for vehicle users to make alternative arrangements to avoid the worst of the roadworks, which are due to last until the summer.
And keen cyclist Mr Hendry noticed that many cars in the queues were only carrying the driver.
Bear Scotland said that shortening the dedicated bus and truck lane had reduced the queue by around half a mile, although drivers were still experiencing 45 to 50-minute delays.
Last night, the rush-hour was worse than on Monday, with reports of delays of up to 30 minutes for those heading out of Inverness.
Bear Scotland pledged to keep monitoring the scheme and repeated calls for commuters to use public transport or to share cars.
Mr Hendry said: “What has been noticeable is that many cars are coming across with one occupant, and I would urge people to car-share.
“The other key thing is that clearly there are times when there is going to more pressure on the bridge. People need to look at staggering their journeys to help this situation.
“Everyone has sympathy with people who are trapped in traffic. However, this work has to go ahead. There is no alternative for getting traffic over the bridge.
“Unfortunately, this is a situation where people need to adjust their behaviour in terms of crossing the bridge or just try to be as patient as they can.”
Mr Hendry said that, while he cycled from his home at Tore to Inverness on Monday, he drove into the Highland capital yesterday, taking 35 minutes to do a journey which would normally take 15-20 minutes.
One Muir of Ord commuter, who did not want to be named, said that many drivers were using backroad “rat-runs” to avoid the worst of the queues, and joining the A9 at Munlochy.
He said: “It added 10 miles on to my journey but it was quicker.”
A Bear Scotland spokeswoman said: “The shortening of the bus lane to allow general traffic to use both lanes for longer helped reduce the length of queues by around half a mile.
“Overall delays during the morning peak remained similar to yesterday at an average of 45-50 minutes.
“This is because it is the same volume of traffic that is seeking to get over the bridge.
“This is a very busy route and, with complex works of this nature, continued delays are expected while these essential works are undertaken, which is why we have urged people to consider alternative arrangements such as public transport where possible.
“We appreciate that will not always be appropriate and apologise for the inconvenience caused.
“We will continue to monitor the delays and seek ways to help minimise these for motorists.
“Our contractors are currently working 12-hour-day shifts from 7am to 7pm seven days a week.”
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