"Old Town" traffic movement orders formally advertised

Proposed changes to road traffic movements in the centre of Inverness are formally published from today (Friday 16 June).  The proposals form the cornerstone of the multi-million pound City Centre Streetscape & Traffic Management Programme being implemented by The Highland Council and Inverness City Partnership.

Advertising changes to the Road Traffic Orders is a statutory requirement and gives the general public and local businesses 21 days to make any formal objections to the proposals.  A map and a description of the roads movements affected are available for viewing at The Highland Council Service Point, Church Street Inverness.  The proposals include:
• permitting a right turn exit from Margaret Street and left turn exit from Queensgate for all vehicles;
• altering the traffic flow to go in the opposite direction from the north end of Church Street to the Queensgate junction;
• restricting vehicle access in the eastern section of Baron Taylor’s Street in line with restrictions in place for High Street and Inglis Street. 

Bus priority will be reinforced in Fraser Street by restricting right turn entry from Bank Street to buses, taxis and pedal cycles only.

Provost William Smith, Chairman of the City and Inverness Area Committee of The Highland Council,  said: “The business community has been anxious to see what is finally planned to reduce traffic and improve the pedestrian environment in the old town area of the city centre.  In the end we have gone for a compromise – no pedestrian priority, but measures to ease the flow of public transport by discouraging unnecessary private cars.  I commend the proposals and urge the business community support us in this great opportunity to improve our city centre.”

This is the first part of a three-stage process. Revised Road Traffic Orders covering Ardross Terrace and the junction with Young Street/Huntly Street will follow in due course, as will the proposed parking and loading arrangements within the city centre core.

Meanwhile the competitive tenders have been received in respect of the construction contract and the appraisal process is well advanced.  Marie Mackintosh, city partnership officer, said: “We have conducted quality assessment interviews and are now evaluating the cost submissions.  We hope to be in a position to award the contract in July with works to start at the end of the summer  Final layout drawings will be prepared over the coming weeks and when these are completed we will announce a new public display in the City Partnership Office.”

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