The £40,000 study is into the new, preferred, low-cost alternative to a flyover, which was first mooted in the 1970s.

Public agencies have come together to support the blueprint conceived in 2008 by the local Welbeck Estate.

The estate's consultant, Colin Mackenzie, proposed a new approach to help traffic and, in particular, heavy goods vehicles, negotiate the switchback section of the A9 through Berriedale.

His report recommended a realignment of the road at the north hairpin bend, an overtaking lane on the south brae, and measures to improve visibility on the adjoining stretches of road.

The new study will look into the technical aspects of the option, including the ground conditions.

Funding has come from the north strategic transport authority HITRANS (£20,000), the Highland Council (£10,000) and Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd (£10,000).

The long-standing campaign for improvements to the braes suffered a blow when the Scottish Government's forward capital programme for trunk roads review published a year ago did not include any project north of the Tore roundabout in Easter Ross. But backers of the current initiative believe that once the scheme is firmed up, it stands a very good chance of getting the funding green light.

The improvements, including a diversion of the road around the cemetery above the north hairpin, has been provisionally costed at around £3 million. That compares to the £30m to £40m price-tag put on a flyover, plans for which have remained firmly on the shelf.

Dave Duthie, HITRANS partnership director, said yesterday: "We're very keen to see improvements made to our strategic transport network and the A9 north is, of course, key to Caithness and Orkney. Berriedale Braes for a long time has been accepted as one of the main constraints on the road for heavy vehicles."

Mr Duthie said a flyover has been the favoured option for many agencies, including HITRANS.

"Maybe the current scheme is not the ideal solution but, given where we are at the moment with public funding, we believe it represents the best opportunity to get something done," he stated.

Mr Duthie said that before a funding bid can be made for the scheme it has to be subject to a full technical assessment.

"Once we're assured it can be done, I think we will be able to make a very strong case for it," he said. "We are keen to put as much freight as possible on to the rail but, given its limited capacity, we have to be realistic and accept that the majority will continue to come up the A9 and it's essential the road is fit for purpose."

While not responsible for trunk roads, the Highland Council has long championed the cause for improvements at Berriedale.

The council is also pressing the case as a member of the Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership.

Landward Caithness councillor Robert Coghill said that while not figuring on the trunk road forward programme, the Berriedale scheme remains live.

He said: "We had Scottish transport minister Stewart Stevenson at Berriedale in November 2007 and he then accepted the need for improvements to the north hairpin and an overtaking lane on the south brae. The minister then made clear that funding would be available for small-scale capital improvements."

Mr Coghill added: "The days of building brand new stretches of road and flyovers are really over."

Praising the estate for sparking the interest in the low-cost alternative, he said: "I think it must be just about unique that an estate has offered ground to do road improvements. But they see the problems caused by the current road on a daily basis - the lorries getting stuck on the hairpin and so on - and are determined to see some action taken."

Mr Coghill explained it would be the first improvement of the road at Berriedale since the early 1970s.

Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership manager Eann Sinclair yesterday welcomed the go-ahead for the study.

"This is one of our high priority projects and it means that we'll end up with an engineered solution on the table, waiting for the money," he stated. "It could well end up being achieved through slippage in the capital programme."

Mr Sinclair said progress on the project proves what can be done when agencies in the area work together.

The scheme is also the top priority for the Caithness Transport Forum, which intends handing in a public petition to Holyrood's petitions committee when it meets in Caithness in May.

Anson MacAuslan, factor of Welbeck Estates Company Limited, said yesterday: "I'm absolutely delighted that the technical study is going ahead. Until this is done, we don't know just what can and what can't be done on the ground. Once it's complete, there will be plans ready to go."

Mr MacAuslan confirmed that the estate remains committed to providing the land required for the improvements.

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