Changes to road layout of Kessock Bridge as work continues

CHANGES to the road layout of the Kessock Bridge will come into effect tonight, as a £80,000 structural repair scheme continues.

Scotland Transerve has reported that there is currently a 15 minute delay for commuters heading north, as the evening's rush hour gets underway.

At 8pm it intends to shut the southbound contraflow, with the closure of the two fast lanes.

From 10pm the trunk road contractor plans to open a contraflow on the northbound carriageway.

Meanwhile, delays for commuters' journeys due to the repair work continue rising.

Yesterday southbound delays doubled to 20 minutes, but it rose to 28 minutes this morning, according to Scotland Transerv.

It means this evening's northbound rush hour delays could be worse than yesterday's.

On Monday motorists were hampered by 10 minute delays due to the work on the busy section of the A9 — not the 75 minute delays forecast by the agency last week.

Motorists heeded advice to use public transport, car share or work from home.

Employers were also encouraged to alter working hours in a bid to lesson the impact at peak times — coming into Inverness between 7am and 10am and then leaving the city from 4pm until 7pm.

The agency had praised motorists for making alternative arrangements and hoped it would continue.

A contraflow system was put in place for eight days from Sunday and the speed limit has been reduced from 70mph to 30mph throughout.

The northbound lanes will be closed during the first part of the works, while the southbound lanes will shut for the remainder.