PLANS have been submitted for infrastructure improvements amounting to £30 million for Europe's busiest single-vessel ferry service.
The Corran ferry five-minute crossing services commuters travelling to and from Fort William, Ardnamurchan and Mull.
In an average year, the service carries more than 270,000 cars.
The alternative journey by road around the takes about two hours around Loch Linnhe.
Highland Council has submitted a planning application to build a new slipway and overnight berthing at Ardgour, as well as a a new marshalling area for vehicles, cycle path, parking and a new protective barrier called a breakwater on the Nether Lochaber side.
Highland Council along with the UK and Scottish Governments are expected to foot the bill.
The council would provide £10m, the UK Government through the Inverness and Highland City Region Deal would fund the remain £20m.
The Scottish Government has said £28m could be used from the city region deal towards a new electric ferry.
Councillors previously appealed to the Scottish Government to change investment priorities as the £28m was earmarked for A9 upgrades.
For about a year from October 2022, the ferry service was impacted by repairs to its key vessel MV Corran. The Highland Council requested military aid for the route, but this did not take place.
