Construction has started on building an extra lane to ease congestion at the Manor Roundabout in Stornoway.
The third carriageway, from Stewart Drive to the roundabout is due to be completed around the end of October. A pedestrian crossing will also be built on Macaulay Road as part of the improvements.
During the morning rush hour a bottleneck at the Laxdale approach results in long delays for motorists. Tailbacks often stretch for a mile out of town towards the Tong junction. At times there are also problems in the early evening with traffic coming out of town.
The pavement off the Roundabout approach road has been dug up with construction workers busy on the site for the past two weeks.
However, the commencement of the construction works costing £350,000 does not have formal approval. However the paperwork to allow the improvement works to begin will be passed by councillors tonight.
Councillors will be told that the construction squad was asked to start as soon as possible before the winter set in to make as much use of daylight as possible.
Work starts on extra lane for Manor roundabout 2/9/10