Inverness' £11m road crossing "is a sell out", says city's provost

Plans for a new £11m road crossing over the River Ness and Caledonian Canal, in Inverness, have been described as a "sell-out" by the city's provost.

The project will include another swing bridge across the canal and a low-level bridge over the river to carry the southern distributor road to link the A9 with the A82.

However, provost of Inverness Bill Smith said that the plans will cause even more traffic gridlock.

Smith said that the project would be a "short-term solution" after draft proposals for a tunnel or aqueduct crossing, which would cost around £16m to £22m, were regarded as "unrealistic" by councillors.

He added: "I believe councillors are not looking far enough ahead. We should not look to the short term, we must find a solution for traffic movements that will last 50 to 100 years. I think this is selling the people of Inverness short. It is not taking account of traffic that we can expect in the next few years."

British Waterways has opposed any fixed bridge that would limit its operations.

At present, two swing bridges span the canal and can lead to traffic build ups when they open to allow boats through.