The council has awarded a contract to CRL Surveys Ltd to carry out an intrusive structural investigation of the post-tensioning reinforcement in the bridge.

The investigation work will include trial holes above and below the bridge deck, with material sampling and testing.

During the investigation, road works will be deployed on the bridge comprising lane closures and footway closures.

At least one footway and one traffic lane in each direction is to remain open at all times, but some delay and disruption will be unavoidable.

There will also be restrictions to prevent long vehicles and buses from turning right or left at the junctions at the ends of the bridge, and some disruption to local parking bays by the Cathedral on Ardross Street.

In order to reduce the impact at peak times, the contractor is being permitted to work at night, provided that noise is kept below pre-agreed levels.

Ness bridge carries the B861 over the River Ness, below Ness Castle. The work is planned to start on Monday 17 April 2023, and should be complete within eight weeks, by Friday 9 June 2023, or earlier.

All roadworks will be removed from the bridge to allow for the Etape Loch Ness cycle event on Sunday 23 April and the Cancer UK Race for Life event on Sunday 28 May.