Traffic lights could be installed and speed limit restricted on undualled A9 section

The Scottish Government is exploring the possibility of installing traffic lights and reducing the speed limit on the as-yet undualled section of the A9 at Dunkeld.

The news comes after a Perth and Kinross councillor wrote to the cabinet secretary for transport demanding urgent action to improve road safety on this dangerous part of the A9.

While plans for the dualling of the Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing section – estimated to cost up to £486m (as of April 2023) – include a roundabout, work is not expected to begin any time soon.

Transport Scotland this week said it was committed to putting short-term safety measures in place in advance of dualling this section and had already installed solar powered illuminated road studs, new road markings and improved signage at the A9/A822/A923 Dunkeld and Inver staggered junction.

As part of the Scottish Government’s £3.7bn A9 dualling project, a roundabout has been proposed which would connect the A9, A923, A822 (Old Military Road) and the unclassified road to Inver.

Draft Orders and the Environmental Impact Assessment Report for the Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing project were published on May 30, 2025. The statutory consultation period has now ended. Transport Scotland is currently considering all the representations received and has pledged to work with any objectors to try and resolve them before any decision is taken on whether there will need to be a Public Local Inquiry.

In the meantime, Strathtay ward councillor Claire McLaren would like a temporary roundabout created where both the A822 and A923 meet the A9. Bailie McLaren is calling on the Scottish Government to take action, saying its “multiple promises on the A9 have proved to be totally worthless”.

The Liberal Democrat councillor – who will stand as a Mid-Scotland and Fife list candidate in next year’s Holyrood elections – said: “There are long build-ups of traffic trying to join the A9 at Dunkeld. I regularly see vehicles tailing all the way into town waiting to access the A9. This is totally unacceptable when the simple solution is to install a roundabout here.

“A roundabout was quickly installed south of Bankfoot to allow easy access to the construction site for the A9 upgrade and a roundabout has similarly been installed at Moy now that A9 upgrade work has started there. So why can’t this be done at Dunkeld?

“I have been told nothing is likely to happen until maybe 2030! The businesses, visitors and residents of Dunkeld need to be able to access the A9 safely. When drivers have to wait too long, they are more likely to take risks. A roundabout would both allow for much better traffic flows and also slow the speeds of traffic approaching the Dunkeld junction.

“We have a ‘do-nothing’ government whose multiple promises on the A9 have proved to be totally worthless. I will not give up on this and will continue to campaign for action from them on this issue.”

Transport Scotland has said it is committed to targeting shorter-term safety measures on the A9 ahead of dualling.

A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: “The A9 Dualling Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing project includes a proposed roundabout connecting to the dualled A9, A923, A822 (Old Military Road) and the unclassified road to Inver, which will improve safety of the existing staggered priority junction once built.

“We are committed to delivering targeted shorter-term safety measures on the A9 in advance of the dualling, and have already installed solar powered illuminated road studs, new road markings and improved signage at the junctions.

“Our Operating Company BEAR Scotland is currently investigating reducing the speed limit in this area and the feasibility of installing traffic signals at the junction. Existing traffic signage through Birnam and Dunkeld is also being reviewed.”