ALEXANDER WELCOMES POSITIVE SIGNS FOR BYPASS AHEAD OF TRANSPORT REVIEW ANNOUNCEMENT

12.33.00pm GMT Thu 4th Dec 2008

Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey Lib Dem MP Danny Alexander has given a warm welcome to signs the Inverness bypass may yet be made a priority in the delayed Strategic Transport Projects Review. Yesterday it was revealed that a statement will be made by Ministers in the Scottish Parliament next Wednesday, 10th December.

Mr Alexander wrote in October to the Transport Minister calling for work on the Trunk Link Road (TLR) to receive funding by 2010 as part of efforts to fast-track transport investment to mitigate the effects of the economic crisis.

Responding to the MP, Transport Scotland Chief Executive Malcolm Reed said:

"The Inverness Trunk Road Link has been identified within the STPR as an area where a number of Scotland's strategic transport corridors converge and the STPR will take account of the importance to Inverness of having good connectivity between these corridors."

Responding, Danny said:

"This is the most encouraging sign yet that Inverness may get the bypass it badly needs.

"It seems clear that Transport Scotland has recommended that the TLR should receive high priority, and I hope that - with the voices of almost 2,000 Invernessians endorsing that verdict through our 'Speed Up the Bypass' campaign - Ministers will not turn a deaf ear.

"There is a major opportunity following the Pre-Budget Report dividend to bring forward investment in construction projects, and that makes the case for funding to be in place by 2010 even more compelling.

"I very much hope that Ministers will be as good as their word and make sure we start to build the bypass before 2012. The people of Inverness will be listening very carefully to what they have to say next Wednesday."