The Scottish Government has made significant progress in its plans to dual the A9 highway, according to Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop. She has confirmed that a route for the section between Killiecrankie and Glen Garry has been finalized.
Moreover, Made Orders, which allow the Government to authorize road construction projects, are expected to be published for two additional sections of the road in the coming months. This development comes after it was revealed that the cost of upgrading the Tomatin to Moy stretch would be £308 million, which is significantly higher than the initial estimate.
Preparatory work for the dualing of the A9 between Tomatin and Moy will commence later this month. The tender for this section previously received only one bid, which was considered not cost-effective for taxpayers. As a result, the deadline for completing the road dualing project between Perth and Inverness has been pushed back by ten years.
Despite these challenges, Ms. Hyslop emphasized the Government’s determination to complete the £3 billion infrastructure project. She highlighted the commitment to dual the A9 between Perth and Inverness by 2035. The Government has engaged extensively with local communities and stakeholders to address concerns, particularly regarding the historic battlefield at Killiecrankie.
Made Orders for the Crubenmore to Kincraig and Dalraddy to Slochd sections of the A9 will also be published soon. The contract for the Tay Crossing to Ballinluig section is expected to be awarded in the summer of 2025. Ms. Hyslop assured that there will be no slowdown in the efforts to upgrade this crucial road, with only 11 miles upgraded in the past decade and 77 miles remaining.
The ultimate goal is to deliver a safe, reliable, and dualled A9 between Perth and Inverness by 2035. This project is anticipated to bring various benefits to local communities, businesses, and road users, including reduced journey times, improved road safety, and opportunities for active travel. Despite the challenges ahead, the Scottish Government remains committed to seeing this project through to completion.
