Two Highland communities are set to become safer and more welcoming for walkers, cyclists and wheelchair users thanks to a fresh injection of funding from Transport Scotland.
The Highland Council has secured support for two Active Travel projects that aim to transform everyday journeys in Wick and Culbokie, while national investment will also deliver improvements at the busy Raigmore Interchange in Inverness.
Councillor Ken Gowans, who chairs the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, warmly welcomed the funding, calling it “terrific news” for the region and for Highlanders who are keen to travel more sustainably.
He said the benefits of active travel stretch far beyond getting from A to B, touching on everything from personal health and air quality to town centre vitality and climate resilience.
“We’re working hard to build a low carbon transport network across the Highlands,” said Cllr Gowans.
“That means making it easier and safer for everyone to walk, wheel and cycle, and these projects are a real boost to that vision.”
In Wick, funding will support a major upgrade to the Bridge Street and High Street junction, making it safer and simpler for people to move between car parks and the town centre on foot.
The pedestrian zone on the High Street will be resurfaced, while rising bollards will be installed to reduce traffic and protect those on foot.
New seating, planting and public art reflecting Wick’s cultural heritage will complete the transformation.
Meanwhile, in the village of Culbokie on the Black Isle, plans are progressing to widen footpaths to two metres where needed and to introduce new routes that avoid road crossings altogether.
A new light-controlled pedestrian crossing will be built alongside a range of traffic-calming measures, including raised junctions and road pinch points, creating a more relaxed and inclusive space for everyone from buggy-pushers to bike-riders.
Tendering is already underway for both schemes, with work expected to be completed by March 2026.
The improvements don’t stop there.
Transport Scotland has also confirmed it will fund major upgrades to the Raigmore Interchange in Inverness.
This will include new signal-controlled crossings for pedestrians and cyclists, better connecting local communities and making one of the city’s busiest junctions far safer for those travelling without a car.
The funding signals a broader commitment to sustainable travel across the Highlands, one that’s focused not just on infrastructure, but on the freedom it brings.
