Members of the council’s economy and infrastructure committee have endorsed five categories of investment to allocate the additional £20m: 

• Investment in the road network at a strategic level
• Investment in the road network at an area level
• Investment in the road network at a ward level
• Investment in specialised road maintenance vehicles/plant
• Investment in Active Travel 

A budget of £3.7m per annum will be allocated to strategic road maintenance schemes with the aim to target some of the larger, more costly schemes, where significant investment may be required to improve the existing road network, or towards strategic projects which tie in with investment from developer contributions and potential match funding for improvements.

A budget of £3.6m per annum will be distributed across the Operational Areas using the same historic methodology which utilises the road condition survey results (SRMCS). Area Road Managers will consult Members on their proposals for the next two years.

An allocation of £100,000 per annum will be allocated to each council ward. Projects will be at the discretion of ward Members and decisions will be reported to the relevant Area Committees for approval in line with governance arrangements.

£0.5m will be allocated, annually, towards the purchase of specialised vehicles which will assist in the general maintenance of the road network. Wherever possible, fleet investment will focus on delivering the most up to date low carbon plant and machinery.        

It is anticipated that there will be further opportunities to promote active travel initiatives over the next two years, so members agreed to an allocation of £100,000 per annum to support any potential funding bids.

As for the £7.2m base allocation - £5.2m will be distributed between the Areas for road resurfacing and surface dressing works with £650K allocated for bridge maintenance, £500K for match funding to support bids made under the Strategic Timber Transport Schemes, and £850K for schemes involving road markings, signage, safety fencing, winter drainage and footways across all geographic areas.

The Highland Council has the longest road network in the UK with 4,000 miles of local roads, 1,000 miles of footpaths and 1,400 bridges spanning a region covering one third of Scotland.

Chair Cllr Trish Robertson said: “The increased spending on roads infrastructure reflects our commitment to invest as much as we can on improving our road network. This is a high priority for us, our communities and fundamental to connectivity and the entire economy of the Highlands.

“We have the largest network of roads of any Local Authority and our staff have to deal with some of the most severe weather in the UK so this investment is very welcome and will go some way to addressing work that is needed.”