Potholed sections of A99 in Wick set for resurfacing
Road workers are to tackle some of the most notorious potholes in Wick over the next few weeks.
Resurfacing will be carried out on sections of the A99 running through the town, as well as at junctions.
Locations on the list include George Street, where motorists routinely drive on the opposite side of the road to avoid a badly damaged stretch of carriageway. Repairs are also planned for Bridge Street and High Street.
Highland Council leader Raymond Bremner gave an update to members of the Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council at their July meeting on Monday night.
Councillor Bremner, who represents the Wick and East Caithness ward, said: “I’m sure that everybody will want to see this being done and want to see it being done properly.”
He reported that the council would begin preparatory work this Wednesday, with the resurfacing getting under way on Monday, July 8, and continuing for around three weeks.
Earlier, in a social media post, Councillor Bremner had outlined the programme of works, acknowledging it will cause “some disruption”. He said he understood that convoy systems would be in operation.
“The works will see a number of areas that have long been anticipated being undertaken including George Street, High Street, Bridge Street and Cliff Road up to the junction with the A99 and A882 at Thurso Street,” Councillor Bremner explained.
“A lot of utility works have been undertaken in Wick over the past months, including water, gas and fibreoptic cable works, and I hope we can now start to see a lot of areas repaired where we won’t see newly resurfaced areas dug up for further utility works.”
He added: “I know a lot of folk will welcome this news – please be patient whilst they undertake the works. We asked for the greater area to be considered rather than small patches and the strategic funding secured recently will help the delivery of this.”
Councillor Bremner mentioned other streets in Wick that will be repaired later, including Carnaby Road, Harrowhill, Argyle Square, Loch Street, Kinnaird Street, Glamis Road and Leith Walk.
In a previous social media post, Councillor Bremner had pointed out: “For the second year in a row, Caithness and the Isle of Skye have received nearly half of all strategic capital investment available across the Highland Council area, reflecting the condition of the road infrastructure in those areas.
“In Caithness, a number of years ago, the capital investment was only about £600k per year. In the past three years there has been a total capital investment in Caithness of over £7m. Previously, that would only have been £1.8m.
“That lets you see just how much investment is being channelled to areas, like Caithness and the Isle of Skye, that really need it. At the same time, we have ensured that other areas get increased amounts also.
“It will take years to get our roads back to the condition that we want them to be in, so we have looked at ways to sustain the funding for years to come.”
He highlighted Highland Council’s 20-year investment programme covering the period 2027 to 2047.
