The overtaking lane at Moy, south of Inverness is less than a mile long and cost £2.8m to build. The lane ends just before a junction where opposite traffic, which comes southwards, is allowed to turn right across the carriageway.

Residents of Moy and Tomatin have complained that their warnings about the flaws in the design to build the overtaking lane on the Perth to Inverness route south of the Highland capital were not taken into consideration.

Transport Scotland has decided to close the northbound overtaking lane and admitted that there were flaws in its designs. The lane was closed soon after a motorist was almost involved in a head-on collision as she was turning right to her home.

The plan to build the lane, known as 2+1 was in designing stage for seven years before the construction began. Community council chairwoman Vivien Roden said that a letter to oppose the lane was sent to Transport Scotland explaining the concerns about the short length of the lane as well as the location of the Lynebeg junction.

Inverness South councilor Jim Crawford, whose ward includes Moy, said: "The money would have been better spent on dualling part of the road."

However, Transport Scotland has defended the scheme and said that it met design standards. A spokeswomen said that an apposition to the scheme was received however as the scheme went ahead because it was designed to meet the relevant standards for a junction and had cleared the safety audits.