A NEW high-level bridge crossing the River Ness and Caledonian Canal is among three options being considered for a road to ease traffic congestion in Inverness.

A £75.8 million plan to tunnel under the canal was ruled out by councillors as a working group met to consider eight options.

Inverness needs a ring road to link the A82 Fort William road with the A9 to Perth and in turn the A96 to Aberdeen but the river and canal cause a problem.

The Highland councillors selected three choices for further consideration.

The cheapest option would see a low-level swing bridge built over the canal near the Tomnahurich Bridge. There would be a roundabout at the western end, with the road following the canal embankment before crossing the River Ness on another low bridge.

Another option, priced at £27.2m, features a swing bridge and a low-level river crossing but has a different road route. The final option, priced at £67.8m, is for a high-level bridge crossing both canal and river.

However, land reform campaigner Andy Wightman claims some of the land belongs to the Inverness Common Good Fund.

The council believes this claim is false, but is checking all relevant documents.

The working group will meet again on February 17 before making a recommendation to the full Highland Council on March 1.