New Stromeferry bypass a matter of urgency, says councillor.
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EFFORTS to persuade big funding bodies to support plans for a new Stromeferry Bypass in Wester Ross must be progressed with a sense of urgency, a councillor has said.
Audrey Sinclair, Independent Councillor for Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh, said people living in the local communities had waited long enough for a new road to be built.
She made her comments after councillors approved plans to approach external funding bodies as part of an effort to develop a funding package.
Work to identify a suitable route started about two years ago and nine options have now been wittled down to three.
Councillor Sinclair said: "People can recall having discussions with councillors and officials about a Stromeferry bypass 15 years ago. We have to ensure that this does not slip again."
Colin Howell, the council’s project design unit manager, said it was a complex scheme with no straightforward solution.
The A890 Stromeferry Bypass has been affected by rockfalls and intermittent closures since it opened in 1970.
The road remains only partially open after rockfalls closed the bypass last month.
Three possible bypass routes were presented to the planning development and infrastructure committee yesterday (Wednesday).
The first of the possible solutions would involve building a bridge across the Strome Narrows and a new bypass of Lochcarron at a cost of £109.3 million.
Option 2 would see a rail viaduct being created along the lochside, moving the road on to the land used by the existing railway, at a cost of £132.13 million. Or an entirely new road to the south at Glen Udalain could be built at an estimated cost of £85.83 million.
Councillor Sinclair said people would not be amused to find a preferred option was still to be found.
She added: "We do need to go back to local communities to give them an explanation of why we are where we are. This is a step forward but it’s not the step forward that was expected by the communities."
Committee chairman Thomas Prag gave a commitment that the issue was "not being kicked into the long heather".
"We have to keep this going," he added.
Speaking after the meeting, Councillor George Farlow, SNP member for Sutherland, said the funder of the scheme would undoubtedly have a significant say when the final route is being selected.
He said: "If the funding is coming from Europe then we may have to do what Europe wants us to do. There may well be issues for funders who say the route has to go through Lochcarron or they may say we can’t go ahead until we have explored other options."
