Inverness Trunk Road Link

Plans are in place to construct a southern bypass that would link the A9, A82 and A96 together involving crossings of the Caledonian Canal and the River Ness in the Torvean area, southwest of the city.

The east section will bypass Inshes Roundabout, and accommodate proposals for new development at the West Seafield Retail and Business Park and also a new Inverness Campus, which houses Inverness College UHI's main campus together with "An Lochran" which is jointly occupied by HIE and UHI Executive Office.

[6] In late 2008 the controversial decision by the Scottish Government not to include the full Inverness bypass in its transport plan for the next 20 years was made.

The government's Strategic Transport Projects Review did however, include the eastern section of the route, which will see the A9 at Inshes linked to the A96.

But the absence of the TLR's western section, which would include a permanent crossing over the Caledonian Canal and River Ness, sparked dismay among several Highland councillors and business leaders in Inverness who feel the bypass is vital for the city's future economic growth.