Road work causing gridlock in Fort William

Bear Scotland contractors are carrying out improvements along a stretch of the A830

Residents of Fort William say work to improve a cycleway has gridlocked routes through the town, including the A82.

The 12-week project started last Monday along the A830 and there have been reports of minutes-long journeys being delayed by up to an hour.

Local Lib Dem MP Angus MacDonald said there had been a "disappointing lack" of engagement over the work, and he has asked why the road work could not be done at night-time when roads were quieter.

Road maintenance company Bear Scotland said it was aware of complaints about congestion, adding the work was being done at "low season" and had avoided the busier summer and autumn holiday periods.

The cycleway connects the A82/A830 Road to the Isles Roundabout in Fort William to Banavie Swing Bridge.

Bear Scotland said the improvements would widen the existing shared-use cycleway and upgrade road markings, dropped kerb crossing points and traffic signals.

The aim of the work is to improve journey times through Fort William.

But Mr MacDonald said residents were upset the work would take so long to complete and there had not been consultation to find times that were less disruptive to daytime traffic flow.

He added: "I think the work should have been done at night.

"The A82 in particular is the main arterial route on the west coast of Scotland.

"It is how people from Glasgow get to the islands or Inverness.

"It is in a very bad condition around Fort William."

'Safe access'

Bear Scotland said traffic management measures were essential to keep workers, pedestrians and motorists safe.

It said the work would be completed as quickly as possible.

A spokesperson said: "We are currently working with our contractor and stakeholders to mitigate delays and disruption as much as possible.

"The temporary traffic lights are being manually controlled at peak times and adjustments to the traffic management set up is ongoing to optimise the measures.

"Unfortunately, maintaining safe pedestrian access impacts the phasing of the lights and journey times."

In September, local businesses warned that traffic congestion in and around Fort William was preventing them from expanding.

Lochaber Chamber of Commerce said getting through the town had been a problem for years but it was now at "crisis point".

BSW Timber and fish farm company Mowi were among businesses to express frustration at delays getting raw materials in and getting products out.

The Scottish government said it had plans for improving travel through the town.