Highland Council has endorsed Transport Scotland’s plans for the A9/A82 Trunk Roads Longman Junction improvement scheme in Inverness.
Transport Scotland (TS) held a public consultation over the summer on their preferred option.
The design, chosen from five options, will maintain connections to the A82 and Stadium Road, with the existing roundabout enlarged to incorporate two bridges which will house the A9 above.
Access for pedestrians and cyclists also expected to be enhanced, with routes incorporated into the junction and featuring signalised crossings between Inverness city centre and Stadium Road.
These would connect into the existing NMU paths on the A9, A82, Stadium Road and National Cycle Network (Route 1).
Inverness provost councillor Helen Carmichael said: “While we recognise the strategic importance of this key trunk road improvement and endorse the council’s support for this project, we are particularly keen to learn how it will complement the council’s ambitions for the Longman Landfill Site redevelopment and also improve active travel within Inverness.”
Earlier this week Transport Scotland has announced its intention to award a contract to Soil Engineering Geoservices Ltd as part of the A9/A82 Longman Junction Improvement scheme.
Work is programmed to start in early October and is expected to last around eight weeks, weather permitting.
A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: “Some of this work will take place on or near the live carriageway and in order to ensure the safety of road workers and road users we will need to introduce traffic management arrangements.
“Road users and local communities will be kept informed of our plans and we will endeavour to ensure that any disruption is kept to a minimum.”