Work on an active travel scheme to encourage more walking and cycling near Inverness is set to begin next week.
The Raigmore Active Travel Link, which will go from the Raigmore estate and existing Golden Bridge to the Raigmore Interchange, will form part of the Inverness City Active Travel Network (ICATN).
This route will allow access to Inverness Shopping Park from the interchange via Inverness Campus, removing the need for those walking, wheeling or cycling to cross busy roads, reports the Inverness Courier.
Future ICATN schemes will see active travel provision improved along Millburn Road and Raigmore Interchange itself to ensure good connectivity to the city centre and east of the city.
Sjoerd Tel, infrastructure coordinator at Sustrans, which is a partner in delivering the project, said: “This work will have a real positive impact for people looking to travel between the campus, Raigmore estate and the city centre.
“The benefits will particularly come to show when improvements planned for Raigmore Interchange and Millburn corridor are also implemented in the near future.”
The new link will consist of a Z-type layout to provide a gentler incline and will be 4m wide to allow easy access to pedestrians, cyclists, wheelers and mobility scooters.
The active travel link will be supported by sheet piles, which will be clad in Ekki hardwood, similar to those at the adjacent Inverness Campus.
The scheme also includes a guardrail, a continuous handrail, path lighting, signage and seating, and a significant landscaping scheme which will see more than 4000 shrubs and 465 trees of various sizes planted in the woodland and on embankment slopes.
Contractor Pat Munro will begin preparation work at the site from Monday ahead of the development work which will begin on May 3.
Work is due to be completed in September and regular communication will be held with local residents to reduce disruption.
Mark Smith, contracts manager at Pat Munro, said: “The Raigmore Active Travel Link is a great project that will really enhance the look of the area while providing a safe route for walking, wheeling and cycling.
“We aim to complete this project with minimum disruption to residents and will keep the local community informed throughout each stage of the works.”
