The A9 at Kessock Bridge in Inverness has reopened after a closure in both directions brought disruption to one of the key routes linking the city with North Kessock and the Black Isle.
Police Scotland Inverness confirmed shortly after 8pm on Friday, May 22, 2026, that the road had reopened and thanked motorists for their patience. The closure had earlier affected traffic around the bridge, with emergency services attending what was described as a police incident.
The Kessock Bridge is one of the most important road crossings in the Highlands, carrying A9 traffic over the Beauly Firth between Inverness and the Black Isle. Any closure on the route can quickly affect commuters, local traffic, freight movement and drivers travelling north or south through the region.
Key update: all lanes were later reported to be running again in both directions, with traffic expected to return gradually to normal on surrounding routes.
Emergency services attended as motorists were told to avoid the area
The disruption began earlier in the afternoon, when Traffic Scotland reported that the A9 at Kessock Bridge had been closed in both directions due to a police incident. Motorists were advised to use alternative routes while emergency services dealt with the situation.
Local reports said the incident was first logged shortly after 2pm. During the closure, drivers faced delays around Inverness and routes approaching the bridge, with police asking people to avoid the area where possible.
Traffic updates later indicated that the road had reopened, easing pressure on surrounding routes. Drivers checking live conditions were directed to Traffic Scotland for the latest road information.
Separate disruption reported near Munlochy junction
A separate traffic issue was also reported north of the Kessock Bridge near the B9161 Munlochy junction, where a lorry shed its load on the A9. The southbound carriageway was closed while recovery work took place.
Reports from the area suggested the incident happened before 3.20pm, with recovery teams brought in to clear the carriageway. The load was later recovered and the road reopened, although the disruption added to an already difficult afternoon for motorists travelling around Inverness and the Black Isle.
By the evening, the main update for drivers was that the A9 at Kessock Bridge had reopened. Traffic on nearby roads was still expected to take time to settle after several hours of delays, but the reopening allowed vehicles to move again in both directions across the bridge.
The incident served as a reminder of how quickly disruption on the A9 can spread through Highland routes, particularly around major crossings such as Kessock Bridge. With the road back open, motorists were still urged to allow extra time and check live travel updates before setting off through the area.
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