Commuters have been warned to prepare for disruption with the next stage of the ambitious A9 dualling scheme to get under way.
Ground investigation work will be carried out on the busy trunk road between Glen Garry and Kincraig from December 8.
The operation is likely to last for 16 weeks, although engineers will down tools over the festive period from December 23 to January 9. Although most of the work will not be carried out on the existing road, traffic management measures will be in place to allow work beside the carriageway to be carried out safely.
The traffic management arrangements will include short, alternate single file sections controlled by temporary traffic lights.
A spokesman for Transport Scotland said: “This ground investigation is needed to get vital information on the existing ground conditions in the vicinity of the A9 carriageway between Glen Garry and Kincraig as we progress our plans to dual the road. This is the latest in a series of ground investigations taking place along the route.
“We apologise for any inconvenience these works will cause and would thank road users and local communities in advance for their patience over the next few months. The contractor will closely monitor the operation of the traffic management measures to ensure that delays are kept to a minimum.”
He added: “When planning their journeys, we’d encourage drivers to visit the Traffic Scotland website for the latest travel updates.”
Dualling work from Perth to Inverness is expected to be finished by 2025.