News that work on dualling the A9 is to start two years ahead of schedule has received a widespread, although not universal, welcome.
Alex Neil, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment, chose Perthshire to announce the details of the accelerated work.
Speaking at Luncarty, which is the start point of one of the sections to be dualled in the £3 billion programme, Mr Neil outlined the early work on upgrading the route.
”I’m delighted to announce we are advancing the Kincraig-Dalraddy section to full dualling and doing so early,” he said.
This enhanced work will get under way in 2015, two years earlier than previously expected.
The impact was hailed as significant by Mr Neil’s colleague in government, Perthshire North MSP John Swinney.
”Safety remains the top priority for this road and I’m sure all commentators can agree that this Scottish Government investment is good news for our country,” he said.
”Major investment in the A9 north of Perth commenced in 2007 when the Scottish Government began investing in improvements which now total £50 million.
“Much more is required, however, and I am confident in the substantive plan that now exists to dual this road once and for all.”’Photo opportunity’Even Murdo Fraser MSP, who has been one of the Scottish Government’s harshest critics over the timetabling of the work, gave some credit.
”I warmly welcome any announcement regarding upgrades to the A9 and it is vital that we see the dualling of the A9 start before 2017,” he said.
”It is right that the Scottish Government press ahead with shovel-ready sections of the A9 to full dual carriageway.
“No one expects the A9 to be dualled overnight but the sooner we start dualling the road, the sooner we will see a road fit for the 21st century.”
But Mr Fraser did say the completion date of 2025 was still too far away and pressure should be exerted to bring it forward.
Richard Baker, shadow cabinet secretary for infrastructure and capital investment, was not so magnanimous, saying: ”Alex Neil’s photo opportunity today is simply reannouncing what we already knew.
”We will still have to wait until 2025 for the A9 to be dualled and, until then, the accidents will continue and the main route between the central belt and the Highlands will remain inadequate and unsafe.”‘Significant’ benefitsHe added: ”Instead of appearing for the cameras, Alex Neil should be pressing ahead with the investment sooner and the question he has to answer is why the long-suffering users of the A9 need to wait another three years until work begins?
”The A9 should be a priority for this government, but, given that we will have to wait 13 years for work to be completed, it sadly remains not to be so.”
As well as cutting the death toll, the improvements to the A9 are likely to have significant economic benefits as well.
Scottish Chamber of Commerce chief executive Liz Cameron said: ”The A9 is hugely important in terms of Scotland’s strategic road network, linking as it does four of Scotland’s seven cities and serving as an artery for much of our valuable tourist traffic.
”Investment in the dualling of this road is therefore vital both from an economic and from a road safety perspective.”