Inverness interchange in line for safety upgrade

Transport Scotland has said the busy Raigmore Interchange in Inverness is to be made safer for all road users with a £2m upgrade. The large roundabout with a flyover links up the A9, A96 and B865 – a road that takes traffic into the city.

It also provides pedestrian access from the city to a large retail park on the A96.

The agency said the revamp would see new signal crossings installed and some paths realigned. Traffic lights are also to operate on a full-time basis to better control the flow of vehicles through the interchange. Currently there are only lights in operation at peak times on the A9 southbound.

Transport Scotland confirmed that the traffic lights would operate as a fully signalised junction with stop lines on the A9 southbound, A9 northbound, B865, and A96 sections of the interchange.

A spokesperson said: “The traffic lights will operate various phases to allow conflicting flows of traffic to be permanently controlled. This will improve safety and allow efficient flow of traffic around the junction, with pedestrian phases operating in conjunction and when the push buttons are activated to satisfy the demand.”

The interchange is one of the busiest places for traffic in the Highlands.