Millions needed to pay for Stromeferry bypass solution

A landslide at the Stromeferry bypass earlier this week

Highland councillors are to be asked to agree that officials start work to find millions of pounds needed to pay for a solution to a trouble-hit bypass.

The A890 Stromeferry bypass in Wester Ross was partially reopened on Thursday after several rock falls closed the route on Tuesday.

After a landslide in December 2011 the road was shut for four months.

Options to overcoming the problems cost between £85m and £132m. Highland has £10m available for the work needed.

The local authority's planning, development and infrastructure committee will be asked next week to agree officers begin work to find sources of funding.

When the route was closed for four months - from 22 December 2011 to 23 April 2012 - it cost Highland Council £2.8m to deal with the aftermath of the landslide.

A small car ferry, the MV Glenachulish which crosses between the mainland and Skye, was hired to help local motorists avoid having to make the long detour.

School pupils used train services and a hired pleasure boat to get to school.

Large rubber mats were later laid on a railway next to the bypass to allow road traffic to travel a short distance along the line.