The earliest anticipated start date for construction is May 2025 with a 25-week construction programme. This programme is dependent on contract procurement processes and successful appointment of a principal contractor for the works.

Skye and Raasay Area Committee chair, Councillor John Finlayson, said: “The Portree Link Road works are progressing with planning consent granted on 6 February 2023 (App No. 22/02739/FUL) and the land access agreements and purchase now complete.

“This enables the design specification to continue, and it is hoped to progress to the tender stage of the project early 2025 with the goal for construction work to begin around May 2025.

“The Home Farm expansion is nearly complete, and most of the road link has been constructed in line with development. The final, undeveloped section will provide the much-needed connection to the A855 Staffin Road and members and the community are pleased that some timescales have finally been identified.

“Future updates will be brought to Committee and to Members at Area Business Meetings to keep both the Committee and the public up to date with the next stages to the project. As it is imperative things proceed with all due haste.”

Completion of the route between the A87 and A855 will allow for better distribution of traffic in the area, avoiding the need to travel through the town centre. This will help reduce congestion in the town centre and at the junction to the harbour.

 The completed Link Road will also provide greater scope for the public sector co-location project to relocate.