Inshes work clash causes road chaos

A SCATHING attack was launched on Highland Council by a councillor unhappy drivers were not alerted to works that caused chaos around Inshes bridge this week.

Just weeks after a third lane was completed on the bridge to relieve congestion, trunk roads contractor Bear Scotland has closed off the new lane so safety barriers on the westbound side of the bridge can be replaced.

On Monday this coincided with works by BT on the B9006, near Simpsons garden centre.

Inverness South councillor Ken Gowans said traffic management had “failed spectacularly” on the day, with a complete lack of communication from the council about work on the barriers.

“I left Inverness College UHI at 5.10pm on Monday and I couldn’t even get out the car park,” he said. “I eventually got onto the B9006 and had to go all the way round by Milton of Leys to get to Inshes.

“The point is that this is causing a major headache because of a lack of communication from the council.”

Cllr Gowans said the problem was exacerbated by BT being allowed to carry out works outside Simpsons at the same time and that problems persisted even later in the week.

Chairman of the council’s environment, development and infrastructure committee, Councillor Allan Henderson, said the council had not been notified of the works by either Bear or BT.

Insisting the situation improved after Monday he said: “It really was the perfect storm with two utilities working on the same stretch of road.”

Bear Scotland said the £50,000 project to replace the barriers is due for completion on Wednesday.