In the words of country singer Willie Nelson:
“On the road again
Just can’t wait to get on the road again”
Route 66? No. In this case just a bit more prosaic. Liberal Democrat MP Danny Alexander and 5 councillors took time out on Friday 27th June to press again the case for the Trunk Link Route Inverness By-pass — pressure which is required as the Scottish Government moves towards its day of decision in August.
It was encouraging to see councillors from the five wards most affected (Hamish Wood: Aird and Loch Ness; Alex Graham: Inverness West; Thomas Prag: Inverness South; David Henderson: Inverness Ness-side, Janet Campbell: Inverness Central) turn out for this. The TLR will pass through three of their wards (South, Ness Side and West) and have a major effect on life in the others.
Danny Alexander has been absolutely solid in his support for the TLR, and deserves credit for the time he has given to it.
The message for Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson, who refused when he was in town this week to confirm a key SNP election pledge to fund the TLR project before 2012, could have come from another Willie Nelson song:
“If you’ve got the money, we’ll take the TLR”.
Muirtown Community Council is investigating the possibility of lodging a petition with the Scottish Parliament Public Petitions Committee.
Chairman Jim Kidd was quoted in the Inverness Courier [1/4/08] as saying: “We want priority given to road traffic rather than water traffic,” that the set times when the bridges are supposed to be closed to boats were too short and that the agreement on opening times was often ignored by British Waterways Scotland.
Muirtown Bridge is closed to canal traffic 8.20am – 9.20am, 1.15pm – 1.45pm and 5pm – 5.30pm.
Tomnahurich Bridge is closed to canal traffic 8.30am – 9.15am, 12.45pm – 1.15pm and 4.50pm – 5.20pm.
“They reserve the right to open the bridge whenever they feel and they do. Everything else has to stop. We want that right removed. It is very inconvenient and there is no rhyme or reason,” he added. “According to the roads department, Telford Street is one of the busiest roads in the north of Scotland.”
COMMENT BY ALEX GRAHAM
The A82 Fort William and A862 Beauly roads both pass over swing bridges, resulting in all road access from Inverness to and from the west being affected when these bridges are opened.
People living in Kinmylies and Scorguie are particularly inconvenienced, as well as those living further out.
The continuing problems at Muirtown and Torvean highlight the need for a permanent crossing of the Caledonian Canal. Hopefully the Scottish Government will agree with the bid from Highland Council for an aqueduct at Torvean which will provide this permanent link.
Work will start on Monday 18th February on the waterproofing and re-surfacing of the Tomnahurich Swing Bridge and continue until Sunday 30th March.
Theere will be single lane closure on the bridge controlled by temporary traffic lights at peak times and by “vehicle actuated” temporary traffic lights at other times.
The canal bridge will be restricted to two swings per weekday at noon and at 3.30pm and Bught Road will be closed during the works.
During the weekend of Friday 29th February to Monday 3rd March 2008, the bridge will be completely closed to vehicular traffic from midnight on Friday night to 5am on the Monday.
Vehicle traffic on the A82 Fort William road will be diverted by General Booth Road, King Brude Road and Telford Street to the Telford Street Roundabout. Pedestrians and cyclists will be escorted through the site. The bridge will reopen at 5am on the Monday with a single lane closure from then on.
This £250,000 scheme comprise renewal of the waterproofing and road surfacing on the canal swing bridge.
It could be three years before the TLR even reaches the design and consent stage, according to a reply by Highland Council Convenor Sandy Park to a question from Lib Dem Cllr David Henderson.
Mr David Henderson:
“What is the target date for the completion of the detailed design work on the Inverness Trunk Link Road?”
Convener’s Response to Mr David Henderson:
“In response to your question – the Administration will present a report to the Transport, Environmental and Community Services Committee on the outcome of the assessment carried out under the Scottish Transport Assessment Guidelines (STAG) in 2007 and will aim to have the detailed design and statutory consents for the first phase of the project completed by 2010.”
Mr Henderson will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Convener.