Emergency road closures have been imposed in Nairn after further investigations into a sinkhole at the corner of Douglas Street and Nairn High Street. Highland Council says public safety is the reason for the restrictions, with local businesses and motorists warned of disruption while investigations continue.
Emergency road closures have been imposed in Nairn after further investigations into a sinkhole at the corner of Douglas Street and Nairn High Street.
Highland Council said the closures affect the B9090 Nairn High Street, including Gordon Street and The Brae, from Tuesday 2 June 2026. The authority said investigations were still ongoing and it could not yet provide a timeframe for the works or the closure.
The council later issued an update at 4.20pm saying Nairn High Street had reopened with a narrowed lane. Traffic management remains in place, allowing vehicles to flow through, although further investigation and repair works were expected to continue.
The closure decision was taken after further examination of the sinkhole area. Highland Council said the disruption to residents, motorists and High Street businesses was recognised, but that public safety had to take priority while the condition of the road was assessed.
The affected area sits in the centre of Nairn, where even short term closures can affect through traffic, deliveries, bus movement, shoppers and access to local businesses. Gordon Street and The Brae form part of the town centre road network around High Street, making the emergency work more than a routine highways notice.
The council said a further closure may have to be imposed while investigation and repair works continue. It has asked motorists for patience and said its local roads team will keep residents informed as the situation develops.
The Nairn incident follows the pattern of road safety decisions that have to be made quickly when subsidence or sinkhole risks appear under or near a carriageway. In such cases, the public inconvenience is immediate, but the risk is hidden beneath the road surface, where further undermining can create danger for vehicles, pedestrians and nearby infrastructure.
For Nairn’s town centre, the immediate concern is how long traffic management remains in place and whether further closure is needed. For local businesses, the practical effect will depend on access, deliveries, footfall and how clearly drivers are directed around any restrictions.
Highland Council has not yet given a final repair timetable. The next stage will depend on the outcome of continuing investigations and the extent of work needed to make the road safe.
