Scottish ministers were said this week to have given the go-ahead to roads officials to complete the statutory procedures required for four more parts of the £3 billion A9 dualling project to proceed.
Transport Scotland announced on Wednesday that work to prepare so-called ‘made orders’ for four schemes totalling around 22 miles between Perth and Inverness was well on the way to being completed, with publication expected in the coming months.
The four schemes covered by the documents will be the five mile stretch of the road between the Tay Crossing and Ballinluig, the four mile stretch between Pitlochry and Killiecrankie, the six mile stretch between Glen Garry and Dalwhinnie and a seven mile stretch between Dalwhinnie and Crubenmore.
Transport Scotland also said this week it expects public local inquiry reports to be submitted to Scottish ministers for three more schemes in the coming months.
A spokesperson said positive decisions resulting from these public local inquiry processes would clear the way for completing the statutory processes required for roughly 92 per cent of the entire programme to proceed.
The design work for the remaining scheme between Pass of Birnam and Tay Crossing is also understood to be continuing following a co-creative process with the local community.
Transport Scotland said on Wednesday it expects to be able to share the preferred option for this stretch of the route with communities and road users later this year.
Cabinet secretary for transport Michael Matheson commented: “This government remains committed to dualling the A9 between Perth and Inverness, one of the biggest transport infrastructure projects in Scotland’s history.
“Hot on the heels of publishing made orders for the most northerly scheme between Tomatin and Moy, we are pushing forward with the necessary preparatory work to progress the publication of made orders for four more schemes with a total length of over 35km.
“At the same time, to help inform the future delivery plans for the dualling programme, we are engaging with industry representatives to ensure that the remainder of the programme, including these four schemes, is delivered effectively and efficiently.
“This engagement will balance the considerable benefits of the programme against financial risk and any impacts on local communities.
“We expect this process to conclude in summer 2021.”
Perthshire MSP John Swinney said of the reported progress of the dualling programme this week: “This is welcome news, and further demonstration of the Scottish Government’s commitment to this crucial infrastructure project.
“The dualling of the A9 will address the very serious safety record of the road, whilst unlocking economic potential and futureproofing one of the main roads in the country.
“It is an ambitious and bold project that will benefit the lives of people and businesses across Perthshire.
“I have urged the Scottish Government to consult closely with local communities and groups, so as to ensure that any areas of concern receive detailed and sympathetic consideration.
“I am pleased that the Scottish Government has taken seriously these representations, and I am satisfied that they have engaged extensively with local stakeholders.”
