Highland Council has issued a warning that motorists should expect significant congestion across Inverness during a five-day infrastructure project beginning this week. Openreach, a communications company, will install new cable ducts at one of the city's most congested intersections, affecting thousands of daily journeys through the heart of the city.
The work will take place at the junction where Bridge Street, Bank Street, Castle Road, and Ness Bridge converge. According to Highland Council's published notice on 13 October 2026, the project runs from Friday 16 October through Tuesday 20 October, with traffic management measures in place throughout.
The junction experiences more than 29,200 vehicle movements daily between 07:00 and 19:00, with cars accounting for 55% of that traffic. The scale of disruption reflects the strategic importance of this location to the city's transport network.
How will traffic be managed during the work?
Extensive traffic management will operate across the five-day period, with the approach varying by day to accommodate different phases of the excavation. The first phase involves a 35-metre excavation, with existing junction traffic signals to be switched off during the works.
From 06:00 on Friday through 20:00 on Sunday, work will proceed from Johnny Foxes pub to Zizzi restaurant, controlled by a four-way traffic light system. The eastbound lane on Bridge Street and southbound lanes on Bank Street will be closed entirely. Traffic will be redirected using the westbound lane of Bridge Street and the northbound lane on Bank Street. Additionally, one eastbound lane on Ness Bridge will be unavailable.
On Monday, the work area shifts to the location adjacent to a bus stop on Castle Road, again using four-way traffic lights. The westbound lanes of Bridge Street will close, with traffic diverted via the eastbound lane. The southbound lane of Castle Road will also be closed, forcing traffic to use the northbound lane. A single lane will be closed on the southbound side of Bank Street, and the eastbound lane on Ness Bridge will be restricted.
The final phase on Tuesday moves operations to the junction of View Place and Castle Road, where a three-way traffic light system will manage flow.
What changes will affect pedestrians and bus users?
Several pedestrian crossing points will be suspended and replaced with temporary alternatives during the works. Temporary crossings are planned near XOKO and the Mercure Hotel car-park entrance, with the River Grill crossing using portable lights.
Bus services will also be affected. The Castle Road bus stop by the Castle Wynd steps will be suspended, with a temporary replacement outside the Mercure Hotel on Bank Street, while the Gellions stop will remain open.
What advice has the council given to motorists?
Highland Council has urged drivers to plan ahead and use alternative routes where possible. The authority stated:
Warning signs will go out this week advising motorist that delays will be likely and to use alternative routes if possible.Motorists should allow additional time for journeys through the city centre during the five-day period and consider avoiding the area if their journey is not essential.
What happens next?
Temporary traffic and pedestrian arrangements are scheduled to run from 06:00 on 16 October until 20:00 on 19 October 2026. Once the cable duct installation is complete, the junction will return to normal operation, though the council has not announced a specific date for full restoration of standard traffic patterns.
