A NOTORIOUS BOTTLENECK for people motoring from Moray to Aberdeen is set a major step to normality today.
The A96 at Inveramsay Bridge has been the subject of a £10.2million improvements programme after decades of traffic being delayed at traffic signals before passing under a railway bridge.
After decades of delays and months of construction work the newly aligned road and bridge will open today under initial traffic management. The work is expected to greatly improve journey time and reliability as well as reducing the risk of bridge strikes and associated disruption.
On Thursday, Transport Minister Derek MacKay visited the site to see for himself the final touches being put in place. He said: “For years, drivers and local communities who use this section of the A96 have endured delays to their journeys with this bottleneck earning notoriety as one of the worst in the country.
“The old rail bridge was simply not fit for purpose and is why the Scottish Government committed to tackling a unique set of engineering challenges to help bring the A96 at this location up to 21st century standards.
“We wanted to ensure drivers and local communities who have waited patiently for the upgrade feel the benefits at the earliest opportunity, so I’m delighted that they will get the green light to drive on the new road.
“Inversamsay, which is on time and on budget, is emblematic of our wider commitment to delivering transport improvements right across the region.”
Work is now well under way on the £745million Aberdeen bypass which will further speed the journey time between Inverness and Aberdeen, while plans are also well advanced on dualling the entire length of the A96 with new bypasses provided for Nairn and Elgin.
Mr Mackay added: “We are determined to transform transport infrastructure right across the region and this much needed improvement here at Inveramsay Bridge underlines that the Scottish Government is getting on and doing just that.”