First step taken to link neighbouring Strathspey communities by off-road link
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The first part of plans to finally connect Dulnain Bridge and neighbouring Grantown by an off-road link has come forward.
Proposals have been lodged by Dulnain Bridge Community Development Trust with Highland Council’s planning service for a section of the four kilometre link.
The application is for the construction of 2.5m wide shared use footway parallel to the A95 Aviemore-Grantown road, fencing and crossing point to the Cairn Distillery along with a bus stop
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The wider Dulnain Bridge to Grantown Community Link project is being progressed by DBCDT in partnership with the Cairngorms National Park Authority, Transport Scotland and Sutrans.
This first proposal is contained within the ‘A95 North section’ for a 1.4 kilometre long corridor that largely follows the trunk road between Dulnain Bridge and the Strathspey capital.
Edinburgh-based planning agents AECOM Infrastructure & Environment UK Limited state in the submission: “The proposal forms part of an overall project seeking to deliver walking and cycling facilities from Dulnain Bridge to Grantown by providing a safe and continuous shared use path to link the two communities.
“No such route currently exists, with users currently required to share the A95 and A938 with vehicular traffic or walk along uneven verges within close proximity of the live, high-speed carriageway.
“While route sections of the wider project corridor utilise existing unclassified roads and paths, other parts, such as this proposal, would require a new path to be constructed.
“Additional measures planned for implementation as part of the project, aim to further encourage a modal shift towards active travel including the slowing of vehicle traffic, and providing low-height and dropped kerbs where appropriate to cater for those with mobility requirements.”
The wider project is split into five sections. This first section comprises the new footway to the north of A95 starting out in the west where the existing unclassified road (former A95) joins with the current A95, and concluding as the route reaches Craggan around 400m south-west of the Inverallan roundabout.
The long-awaited off-road link between Grantown and Dulnain Bridge finally got the green light last summer thanks to funding confirmation of £630,000 from the Scottish Government.
