In a move which, according to national transport agency Transport Scotland, is being taken due to safety reasons, the speed limit is being reduced to 50mph from 70 mph on a bridge - the Kessock Bridge at Inverness - carrying the A9 in the Highlands.

According to Transport Scotland, the reduced speed limit will be in place on the Kessock Bridge after the completion of roadworks, which are scheduled to begin on the crossing on February 11. During the period of roadworks, a 30mph speed limit will temporarily be in place on the bridge.

Revealing that the roadworks will involve the construction of new barriers on the bridge, and that the new road design will necessitate the implementation of a lower speed limit, Transport Scotland said the 50mph will be extended south of the Kessock Bridge to the Longman Roundabout, so that a new slip road and traffic signals can be duly accommodated.

As per Transport Scotland, once the barriers, the slip road, and the traffic signals are in place, the speed limit on the bridge would need to be reduced to 50mph from 70mph, which is the country-wide speed limit for a dual carriageway.

Meanwhile, noting that the multi-million pound improvement works on the bridge in the coming two years will include significant alterations proposed by Transport Scotland for the carriageway, engineers said that the changes will result in a road design which "deviates from standard."