Transport Scotland has put a contract worth around £50M out to tender for the first of twelve schemes in the £3Bn A9 dualling programme.
The contract, which is to dual the Kincraig to Dalraddy section of the programme, has been brought forward by six months after Transport Scotland identified savings elsewhere, enabling it to unlock investment for the A9 scheme now.
Anticipated savings from the Queensferry Crossing of the Forth programme over the next year along with the progress of the statutory order making process for the Kincraig to Dalraddy dualling have allowed this early start to the project. The contract will be awarded next summer and main works will start soon after.
Transport Minister Keith Brown said: “I have always said that we will bring forward the start of construction on the A9 where we can, and we are delivering on that promise.
“I am determined to drive forward improvements to Scotland’s longest and arguably most important trunk road, and am pressing everyone working on the A9 – both short and long term programmes, to get on and deliver early benefits to users of the road as soon as is practicably possible.”
The A9 dualling programme between Perth and Inverness will see around 80 miles of road upgraded. Short term programmes of work to address safety issues on the A9 are currently on going with the installation of average speed cameras between Perth and Inverness nearing completion, with their implementation on course for October.
Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth John Swinney said: “On the A9, the longest trunk road in Scotland, the twelve major pieces of transport infrastructure to be delivered as part of the dualling programme will benefit not only road users, but support local jobs and businesses and deliver economic growth through the life of the programme, and beyond.
“The ground investigation work alone under way here at Kincraig is supporting over 30 jobs, with more to come when full construction begins next year.”
