FEARS A9 DUALLING COULD BE CURTAILED Stopping would be a‘betrayal’
Fears have been raised about the future of the A9 dualling programme, with Transport Scotland set to re-assess the project.
One councillor said there would be a “sense of significant betrayal” if work on the project was stopped. Transport Scotland says it wants to ensure it is delivered as efficiently and effectively as possible.
The national transport agency insists it is continuing to make “significant progress” with the section between Luncarty and the Pass of Birnam due to
be completed in winter 2021.
But the design and development of the project has been impacted by COVID-19 and the economic climate has also changed.
Due to the size and significance of the project, Transport Scotland is taking stock to ensure public money is spent appropriately.
Transport Scotland appointed commercial advisers last year as part of ongoing stakeholder engagement.
A market consultation will be undertaken this year to help identify the most efficient delivery model and programme.
The £3 billion programme to dual the A9 between Perth and Inverness was due to be completed by 2025 - a deadline the
Scottish Government’s transport agency itself described as “ambitious.”
There are 30 miles of the route which are already dual carriageway. The project aims to dual the remaining 80 miles in 11 sections.
A section in the Highlands is already completed and work to dual the first Perthshire section is well under way.
Highland Perthshire independent councillor Xander McDade is concerned. He said: “Communities have gone through the trauma of years of the planning and design stages for the dualling, including in some cases a local public inquiry.
“I think there would be a sense of significant betrayal if this was cancelled at the last second and the Highlands are left behind yet again in terms of central government spending.
“The north has been one of the most affected economies by COVID due to our heavy reliance on tourism. If we’re to recover and diversify post pandemic then we need major infrastructure investment in both the main road and rail networks to enable this.”
A Transport Scotland spokesperson said the A9 continued to be part of the Scottish Government’s committed infrastructure programme.
The spokesperson added: “The A9 is an incremental programme, which is already delivering benefits now.
“As well as the completed section between Kincraig and Dalraddy, construction of the section between Luncarty and Pass of Birnam is progressing well and currently due to complete in winter 2021.”
Transport Scotland has said the project is “designed to deliver economic growth through improved road safety and reliable and quicker journey times, as well as better links to pedestrian, cycling and public transport facilities.”
Perth and Kinross Council leader Murray Lyle told the PA he did not know anything about the project being reviewed.
He said: “No one has mentioned that to me.
But the Conservative leader said he was not surprised and added: “It was never going to be finished by 2025 in my view. And it will be pushed back - in my view - because it’s such a difficult job. There are really difficult bits - huge bridges and viaducts.
“This certainly does not surprise me. It’s one of those challenges and we hope they will reprioritise it in the future.”