WATCH: Take a drive along next section of dualled A9 from Tomatin to Moy
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The next phase of the A9 dualling programme will see around six miles of the route between Tomatin and Moy upgraded to dual carriageway.
It will be the most northerly section of the Scottish Government’s £3 billion programme to dual the A9 between Perth and Inverness.
Transport Scotland have just published the Made Orders for the scheme which when complete will result in nearly 20 miles of continuous dual carriageway.
It also signals the start of procurement for the £115m construction contract for this section of the route providing welcome news for the Scottish construction industry.
The project involves upgrading approximately six miles (9.6km) of existing single carriageway to an all-purpose dual carriageway, extending from the south of Tomatin and to the north of Moy.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity Michael Matheson said: “It’s particularly pleasing to announce that the next phase of A9 dualling will be the stretch between Tomatin to Moy.
"When complete, it will result in nearly 20 miles of continuous dual carriageway to the south of Inverness, allowing safer, more reliable and shorter journey times.
"More immediately, this investment will provide a vital boost to the construction industry as we support its recovery from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Today’s publication of the Made Orders for the scheme represents another milestone towards dualling the A9 between Perth and Inverness, one of the biggest transport infrastructure projects in Scotland’s history.”
Transport Scotland started the procurement of the construction contract with the publication of a Prior Information Notice today and it is expected that the contract will be awarded in the second half of 2022.
Meanwhile, ground investigation works, a key step towards construction, are planned to progress over the coming months subject to Covid-19 restrictions.
Mr Matheson also provided an update on the remaining A9 dualling programme.
He said: “Although the design and development process has been somewhat protracted by the impacts of Covid-19, we are continuing to ensure that local communities have their chance to input and to the final design.
“Market consultation is currently under way on the remainder of the programme. We expect this process to conclude in summer 2021.
“It is important to remember this is an incremental programme which is already starting to deliver with the section between Kincraig and Dalraddy already complete and construction of the section between Luncarty and Pass of Birnam is well on target to be completed in the winter.”
Inverness and Strathspey MSP Fergus Ewing has welcomed the announcement which follows lengthy consultation and discussion.
He said: "Of course as MSP I will await responses from constituents especially some who maybe directly impacted and some whom I have worked with in the course of the consultation phase but it is good news that more progress is made to the full dualling of the A9.”
