Information Bulletin
24 August 2004
Bressay Road Improvements
Shetland Islands Council are planning to carry out improvements to the road through Bressay prior to the construction of the Bressay Bridge. But construction of a new two lane road from Heogan to Maryfield will not take place until after the completion of the bridge.
Responding to a letter written in the name of the "Infrastructure First Group" and asking for a two lane road to be provided in Bressay prior to the construction of the Bressay Bridge, Councillor Alastair Inkster, Vice-chair of the Infrastructure Committee, said he was surprised at the content of the letter. Councillor Inkster, who chairs the Council's Member/Officer Working Group on Roads, said that he personally led a delegation on a visit to Bressay earlier this year when this section of road was inspected by Members and officials.
"As a result of that visit proposals for the Heogan Road were discussed by the Member/Officer Working Group in June" Councillor Inkster said. "Officials proposed that minor improvements be made to this stretch of road prior to the construction of the bridge but Members made it plain that they did not want to see the work stopping there and they wanted to see this road improved to double width. However, the Working Group accepted that it would not be wise to build a new road and then subject it to the rigours of the traffic that will come with the construction of the bridge."
The Roads Service are now proceeding with plans for the minor improvements but officals will simultaneously seek to acquire the land to allow a double width road to be constructed in the future.
"Plans for a double width road will be prepared and these will be considered for inclusion in the capital programme in the medium term" said Councillor Inkster "but, for the very sound reason I have given, the Working Group will be recommending that the road is not scheduled for construction until after the bridge is completed".