Construction work to dual the A9 between the Tay Crossing and Ballinluig will be the next to get under way, the SNP transport chief promised today.
Fiona Hyslop pledged there would be “no let up” on the commitment to dual the road in full between Perth and Inverness by 2035.
It comes after the government was forced to admit it would fail to meet its original promise to dual the road by 2025.
On Thursday, Ms Hyslop announced a shortlist of contractors will be invited to bid for the latest stage of the work for the section between the Tay Crossing and Ballinluig.
She said it demonstrates “unwavering commitment” to the project.
The transport secretary was in the Highlands to learn more about the Tomatin to Moy stretch.
SNP government ‘committed’ to safe A9
“When construction gets under way in earnest on this section, it will roll continually until the A9 between Perth and Inverness is fully dualled,” he said.
“The Tay Crossing to Ballinluig project will be the next section to reach construction.”
Ms Hyslop continued: “We are committed to delivering a safe, reliable, resilient and dualled A9 between Perth and Inverness in line with our published delivery plan, which anticipates dualling to be operational by the end of 2035.
“Whilst the magnitude and complexities of this work are considerable, there will be no let-up on progressing the dualling programme.”
Scottish Conservative shadow transport minister Graham Simpson said that while the progress is welcome, those relying on the road would not forgive the 10 year delay.
He said: “The SNP’s shameful record of broken promises on dualling the A9 has already led to the project falling a decade behind schedule, while earlier this week the finance secretary announced ‘emergency spending controls’.
“Given Shona Robison has warned that only ‘unavoidable’ spending commitments will now go ahead, the transport secretary must now be clear that she has been assured the A9 dualling falls into this category and won’t be further delayed by SNP cuts.
“If not, then her ‘unwavering commitment’ to 2035 is not worth the paper it’s written on.”
Conversation