The decision to delay the A9 dualling upgrade even further has been a hammer a blow to campaigners and residents.
SNP veteran Fergus Ewing is among those to hit out at his own government’s failure to meet the promised deadline.
And he’s not alone.
Murdo Fraser, Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP, said the delay is a “betrayal of communities along the A9 in Perthshire and the Highlands” and a “danger to motorists”.
SNP transport minister Jenny Gilruth confirmed the target to dual the route between Perth and Inverness by 2025 was “simply no longer achievable” due to economic pressures.
Nicola Sturgeon was challenged on the issue at First Minister’s Questions on Thursday, where she said the government is “firmly committed” to completing the project.
‘Betrayal of communities’
Highland SNP veteran Fergus Ewing slammed his own party for the delays and called for a parliamentary inquiry into the handling of the issue.
Ms Gilruth announced a bid to upgrade the Tomatin-Moy section in the Highlands has been rejected over high costs and will have to go out to tender again.
The Scottish Government has yet to confirm a revised completion date for the project.
Doubt has also been cast over the full dualling of the A96 between Aberdeen and Inverness.
Mr Fraser said: “The SNP Government’s failure to make progress with dualling the A9, and Nicola Sturgeon’s admission that there’s no immediate prospect of any, is now literally a matter of life and death.
“Last year 12 people lost their lives on single carriageway sections of the A9. More will die this year, and next, and the one after, as this SNP promise is not delivered.
“More than a decade after the promise that the whole road would be upgraded, just ten miles out of 80 have been completed – and now there’s not even a timetable or a plan for the rest of this vital road safety project.
“It’s a betrayal of communities along the A9 in Perthshire and the Highlands and a real danger to motorists using the road.”
SNP promise
The SNP originally promised to dual the 80-mile route when they came into power more than 15 years ago.
There were more than a dozen tragedies on the route in 2022.
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant accused the first minister of having “betrayed” communities in the north of Scotland.
She said: “It is clear the work required to fulfil this promise has never been done and the government seeks to blame events that should never have impacted on this timetable.”
Speaking at First Minister’s Questions, the SNP leader said the tender for the Tomatin to Moy stretch was rejected because it was not the best value for the taxpayer.
She added: “Had we gone ahead with that, down the line opposition members would have criticised us for doing so.”