The project aims to enhance pedestrian infrastructure along Academy Street, specifically between Friar’s Lane and Falcon Square. Key improvements will include the upgrade of traffic lights at Union Street and Friar’s Lane, and the widening of footways in areas with heavy footfall. Additionally, raised footways will be implemented at the Rose Street and Falcon Square junctions to prioritise pedestrians. New drop kerbs and tactile paving will be installed at uncontrolled road crossing points, and footways on both the North and South sides of Academy Street will be resurfaced with tarmac, with sections of Caithness Slab being retained.
The works will not affect loading bays, bus stops, taxi ranks, or waiting restrictions, and traffic flow through Academy Street will remain unchanged. A public drop-in session is scheduled to allow residents and businesses to discuss the project and view design drawings with officers from Highland Council and Inverness BID.
The session will be held in the Food Hall at The Victorian Market, Academy Street, Inverness, IV1 1JN, on Wednesday 11 November 2026, between 10am and 2pm. Letters detailing the project's scope and design drawings will be distributed to businesses in the City Centre and residents of Academy Street before the event.
