HITRANS chair a Client Delivery Group (CDG) overseeing the development of an Integrated Transport Plan (ITP) for Fort William. Membership consists of Transport Scotland, HITRANS and The Highland Council who have provided funding to support the commission and have responsibility for the assurance of the outputs. Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Fort William 2040 are also represented on the CDG in an advisory role.
To support the development of the Integrated Transport Plan for Fort William, HITRANS has appointed a partnership between AECOM and Stantec to undertake the 18 month study in May 2025. The commission will initially involve a review, proportionate refresh and validation of the evidence-base and findings of work previously undertaken. This will then inform the development of the Integrated Transport Plan: a comprehensive, multi-modal plan that will establish a proposed package of interventions, priorities, direction, responsibilities, funding sources and process for change for the town of Fort William.
A series of Frequently Asked Questions relating to the study have been developed. Please email FortWilliamITP@aecom.com or info@hitrans.org.uk for any further enquiries.
Study Background
The strategic road network in Fort William suffers from reliability and resilience issues, with delays on the network impacting journey times on the A82 and A830 and also has a negative impact on the environment and public realm of the town with the A82 in particular, creating severance between different areas of the town and the towns connection with its waterfront. These routes also form important transport corridors serving not just Fort William but much of the northwest Highlands and Islands.
The Fort William Strategic Transport Study (Pre-Appraisal, the Case for Change) Report was published by HITRANS in August 2018. This established an evidence base from which a case for change to the transport network was developed. As part of the study, the problems, opportunities and constraints associated with the transport network in Fort William were explored and Transport Planning Objectives (TPOs) identified to guide the development of solutions.
Transport Scotland subsequently commissioned further appraisal work that recommended medium to longer term options be incorporated in an assessment of merits through the (then forthcoming) Second Strategic Transport Project Review (STPR2), before being taken forward for detailed assessment. STPR2 was published in December 2022.
Recognising the need to address the challenges across different transport modes in Fort William, STPR2 recommended the development of an Integrated Transport Plan (ITP) for the town:
Recommendation 32: Trunk road and motorway renewal for reliability, resilience and safety, specifically recommends continued and increased investment in the trunk road and motorway network over and above current maintenance levels to keep the network reliable and resilient for road users. Potential measures would include, but are not limited to, carriageway and structure schemes, strengthening of major bridges, removal of accessibility barriers and development of integrated transport plans for Fort William and the A90 Kingsway through Dundee
Current Progress
Initial work has involved comprehensive data collection including traffic surveys and junction turning counts undertaken over the last two weeks in August. Further surveys will be undertaken in November 2025. This will inform the development of an updated transport model that will be used in the appraisal of different options.
The consultants are currently working with the client delivery group and key stakeholders to develop a robust wider evidence base as well as undertaking work to review and validate previously identified problems, Transport Planning Objectives (TPOs) and options ahead of detailed appraisal that will include wide public and stakeholder consultation later this year and early in 2026.
Every effort has been made to ensure that this work aligns with other work streams and projects in and around Fort William that may have a material impact on the ITP with Fort William 2040 providing a framework for engaging key stakeholders and ensuring the ITP takes cognisance of other major developments such as the new Belford Hospital.