The Black Isle and Easter Ross Area Committee has approved a prioritised, multi-year rolling programme of roads capital works for 2026/27, setting out resurfacing and structural improvement
The programme focuses investment where it will have the greatest impact drawing on Scottish Road Maintenance Condition Survey (SRMCS) data, routine safety and service inspections, and feedback from Ward Members, Community Councils and the public. Delivery will be led primarily by Council teams, with external contractors engaged where required, and many schemes will include complimentary drainage, signage and road-marking improvements to maximise value.
Cllr Lyndsey Johnston, Chair of the Black Isle and Easter Ross Area Committee said, “I’m delighted we’ve approved a practical and well-balanced programme that targets routes people rely on every day. By planning working on a rolling, multi-year basis we can deliver more efficiently, stretch every pound further and make a visible difference right across the Black Isle and Easter Ross.”
Funding and next steps
- The indicative allocation for Ross and Cromarty in 2026/27 is £3.334m, subject to final confirmation at the February 2026 Economy and Infrastructure Committee.
- The rolling multi-year programme will be updated, where necessary, when the latest SRMCS results are received.
- Officers will now finalise procurement and delivery schedules. Traffic management and any temporary diversions will be communicated in advance to minimise disruption.
Priority schemes
Highlights in the approved programme (in order of priority) include:
- B9176 Novar Toll-Ardross-Aultnamain-Mid Fearn Road – targeted resurfacing to improve a key strategic link.
- U1538 – Loans of Tullich, Balintore – resurfacing of the road.
- U1905 Delny Smith Road, Invergordon– surface dressing from A9 junction to U1904 Tullich Muir – Northfield Road junction.
- U1536 – Kirksheaf Farm Road, Tain – resurfacing last section from the sharp bend improvements near retail and community facilities to support, safer, smoother journeys
- U2662 – Cocked Hat Wood, Culbokie – resurfacing of road.
(A full scheme-by-scheme list is set out in order of priority in Appendix 2 of the Committee Report)
The programme aligns with the Council’s ‘Our Future Highland’ commitment to improving road conditions and maintenance and supports ongoing service improvements through a consistent, rolling investment approach.