A turf-cutting ceremony was held yesterday to mark the start of Stage 2 of the West Link, with the works programmed to be complete in December 2020.
RJ McLeod (Contractors) Ltd have been awarded the contract to realign General Booth Road to join the A82 at a new roundabout to allow linkage to the previously constructed Queens Park Roundabout via a new swing Bridge over the canal.
The two canal bridges will then work in tandem to make sure one route is always available to traffic, thus removing delays due to the passage of canal traffic.
Compass Building and Construction Services are currently working on the construction of the new control building which will then be fitted out to manage the operation of the existing and proposed canal bridges.
Stage 2 of the West Link project has required the relocation of Torvean Golf club to the new Kings Course which has been constructed to the North West of General Booth Road. The relocation has included the construction of a new clubhouse and maintenance facilities which are now operational.
Chairman of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee, Allan Henderson said: “The Inverness West Link has been a huge success to date. It has already reduced traffic flows through the city centre and the route is proving very popular as a distributer road. Stage 2 will further reduce traffic congestion in the city centre, improve journey times around the canal crossing and support active travel through new cycling and walking routes.”
Depute Provost and Chair of the local community liaison group Cllr Graham Ross added: “The West Link project has significantly enhanced accessibility since the completion of Phase 1 back in December 2017 and we look forward to all the benefits that Stage 2 will bring for local residents, businesses and visitors to the City of Inverness. The opening up of new parkland and the leisure and development opportunities for this part of Inverness are very exciting spin off benefits to the West Link project.”