Advance notice given for temporary road closure on Nairn High Street

Local businesses and residents in Nairn likely to most be affected by a temporary road closure on Nairn High Street have received a letter from W A Fairhurst, consulting engineers, on behalf of The Highland Council giving advance notice of temporary restrictions and providing details of arrangements which will be put in place to keep any disruption to a minimum.

From 11 October a temporary closure of the High Street will begin to allow the completion of carriageway resurfacing, which is part of the second phase of a £1.3 million package of town centre improvements. 

The work on the High Street will be carried out in two sections; firstly the western end and then the eastern. Once the western end work is complete this section will open to delivery vehicles but not to HGVs. There will also be minor kerb realignment works at the foot of The Brae.

Following discussions with the Streetscape Stakeholders’ group, these two weeks of work from 11 October have been timed to take place during the school holidays to minimise any traffic disruption associated with the school run and during a traditionally quieter period for local businesses. 

While the formal road closure covers a period of four weeks, it is not intended that the High Street will be closed for any longer than two weeks. The extra time has been built into the formal traffic order to allow flexibility should any unforeseen difficulties arise.

The closure will affect access for all vehicles including cyclists and will cover the full length of the High Street, from its junction with the A96 Aberdeen-Inverness trunk road (The Brae) to the junction with Leopold Street.

Residents and businesses affected have been notified about temporary arrangements for the collection of refuse and have been given details of who to contact should they have any questions or need any assistance. 

A spokesman for the Council said:  “By giving the detailed information well ahead of the start date we hope any concerns and issues can be sorted out before work begins and I would like to thank everyone for their patience. We can all look forward to the benefits that the improvements on the High Street will bring to revitalise the heart of our town.”

Restrictions to all traffic, except emergency vehicles will be as follows:

• No right-hand or left- hand turn shall be permitted from, or onto the High Street and The Brae from adjoining vehicular access roads. 

• The one-way traffic restrictions on Douglas Street and Gordon Street will be temporarily suspended to allow two-way traffic for vehicles requiring access to premises on these streets only.

• There will be no vehicular access on Church Street from Knowles Gardens except for vehicles requiring access to premises on Church Street. There will be no through access to the High Street from Church Street.

• During the works at the western (Boots Chemist) end of the High Street, access through The Brae, exiting via Gordon Street, may be possible for access only and by prior arrangement with the contractor.