Speeding up A9 dualling works rejected because it 'won't save time'

Plans to accelerate the dualling of the A9 have been rejected over fears it would not save any time and would increase disruption.

Transport Scotland was asked to consider speeding up road improvements but found doing so would affect the revised completion date of 2035.

The body recommended that the current schedule be maintained as it would achieve the overall competition of the dualling programme earlier than it would if the works were rescheduled.

Bringing forward construction of the improvements to the Dalnaspidal Junction at Glen Garry is still under consideration.

Transport secretary Fiona Hyslop welcomed the report, describing the current plans as “robust and practical”.

She added: “We are already making real progress in delivering on the plan. In the next few months, I expect to see main construction work start on the Tomatin to Moy project, publication of draft Orders for the Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing project, contract award for the Tay Crossing to Ballinluig project and commencement of procurement for the Pitlochry to Killiecrankie project.

“In parallel with this, we expect to complete works on the £5m package of short-term measures by the end of March this year, and the A9 Safety Group will continue to work together to explore any measures to positively influence driver behaviour to help reduce the numbers of people being injured or killed on the road.”

The report considered introducing “overlapping” construction on the carriageway and suggested rescheduling the programme of work in areas of the road deemed to be the least safe.

Ministers were forced to push back the original 2025 deadline for dualling the road between Perth and Inverness by a decade after the tender for the Tomatin and Moy stretch returned just a single bid.

Work on the stretch of road was expected to be completed by the end of 2027 but was pushed back until spring 2028.

Hyslop said that she has asked Transport Scotland to assess the potential to undertake an advance works contract for the Dalnaspidal Junction, which would involve extending the existing Glen Garry dual carriageway north by approximately 1km.

Veteran SNP MSP Fergus Ewing, who previously served as rural economy secretary, said the decision was “sadly typical of the failure of the Scottish Government”.

Ewing said it appeared that Transport Scotland had failed to properly seek the views of industry when producing the report.

“Did they have any meaningful discussions with industry?” he said.

“Did they not even hold a ‘market day’ where major contractors would be invited to contribute their views?

“It looks to me as if they failed to do this, despite the absolute necessity of working collaboratively with industry.

“This is deeply disappointing – and a sham.”