The Changing Face of the City Centre

The Streetscape works are continuing and have now moved into Phase 2.  Construction started on the eagerly anticipated streetscape project in January 2007.  It will see the historic heart of Inverness transformed over 90 weeks through to October 2008 in a carefully phased construction programme.

The £6m investment will enhance the area increasingly referred to as the old town including: Church Street, Union Street, Queensgate, Baron Taylor’s Street, the links to and from the High Street and riverside, Inglis Street, Stephen’s Brae and the Ardross Terrace part of Ness Walk.

The improvements will make the old town more people friendly, reducing unnecessary traffic.  New pavement surfaces in natural stone and street furniture such as seating, bus shelters and information boards will be installed.  Small open spaces will be created for folk to stop for a blether or breath of fresh air, and design details unique to Inverness will highlight our distinct position as the city in the highlands.  Lead artist Matt Baker is working with the landscape architects to incorporate sympathetic artist design features to inspire and surprise, and get people using and thinking about our city centre in new ways.

A new traffic management system was introduced in January.  The diagram shows the main changes.  It caused considerable problems in the early months but has now settled down and created the desired reduction in through traffic.  Congestion is much reduced but is still being monitored.

Further details of what we can expect to see unfold will  be included in a new image diary on this site within the next few weeks - so please visit again soon.

During the works the city centre will be very much “open for business” however, it would be wise to use the car parks and take extra care while walking around.

We are making an altogether better city centre in which to live, work, shop and visit.  Come in to and see for yourself.

Better by design

Lead artist Matt Baker is working with the landscape architects to integrate a series of public art works into the final streetscape design.  For more information see our public art page.