Work starts on £185m Tomatin-Moy section of A9 dualling in year the programme was due to be finished as transport secretary Fiona Hyslop says she has her ‘foot to the floor’ and is determined to see it through

Bittersweet day as work finally starts on Tomatin-Moy section of the A9 dualling in the year that the whole programme should have been finished.

Transport secretary Fiona Hyslop travelled north to see the huge undertaking for herself and revealed that work is already underway on the Pitlochry-Killiecrankie.

Tomatin-Moy has experienced a chequered history since it was re-tendered in 2023 because the only bid stood at £170 million – way above the £115 million budget.

But costs grew exponentially over time alongside the political pressure for failing to deliver the A9 in 2025 and current estimates put the project at a cost of £185 million.

It is the first section of A9 dualling in the Highlands since Kincraig to Dalraddy was completed in 2017, after that Luncarty to Pass of Birnam opened in 2021.

The project, however, is now well underway and Ms Hyslop says in her last year as an MSP that she will have the “foot to pedal” to drive forward the dualling.

Ms Hyslop was asked about the Tomatin-Moy project starting in the year the original deadline for the entirety of the dualling was due to be completed.

She said: “Well, I know there has been frustration at the timing for the start of the A9 works but it's quite clear from today that the Dualling of the A9 is happening.

“It's happening to plan in terms of the milestones we've set and major work starting this week on Tomatin-Moy is evidence of that.

“I got a briefing from Balfour Beatty about what was going to be required for this particular section and it's great to see on site the amount of clearing they've done, the preparation work.

“This is a huge project. It's a huge project in terms of civil engineering construction for the contractors, but it's also a huge contract in terms of government spend and support.

“But it will have a huge impact in supporting the economy and society of the Highlands and Islands in particular, and the A9 is the backbone of Scotland.

“So seeing this part started – and of course the plans are always to have from this moment continuous work on the A9 – is now resulting in the first major construction on this third section.”

With Ms Hyslop set to stand down from Holyrood at the May 2026 Scottish Parliament elections, we asked how resistant the A9 programme of investment is to any potential political change next year?

“I've got my foot to the floor in terms of ensuring that the delivery of the milestones that we've set out,” she said. “It will be delivered.

“I think the important part of the A9, because it's such a big project, such a major construction, such a major part of government spend over the period, it's important to have that laid out in that time scale, in terms of the different sections, the different milestones, this SNP Government has ensured that it is a priority.

“So when it's come to budgets, when it's come to the programme for government, when it's come to setting out the priorities, it's quite clearly laid out – I think it would be very challenging and very difficult for anyone else to question that in the future.

“And I'm confident that our SNP government returned will carry through that momentum. And I'm delighted to be able to kick that off as cabinet secretary for transport and I will continue to see that right through till I stand down next year”.

Until then she is keen to see further “tangible progress” that includes the “publication of the Prior Information Notice (PIN)for the fifth section between Pitlochry and Killiecrankie illustrates the real momentum taking place along the A9 corridor as we move forward with our delivery plan which will see the A9 between Perth and Inverness fully dualled by 2035.”

Transport Scotland’s Team Leader for the project, Stuart Baird said, “We are pleased to see construction beginning in earnest, and we are working closely with our contractors, Balfour Beatty to minimise disruption to road users as far as possible. I want to thank road users and the local community and businesses for their patience whilst these vital works are undertaken.”

Today also marks further progress for the programme with the publication of the Prior Information Notice (PIN) for the fifth section between Pitlochry and Killiecrankie, alerting contractors and their supply chain of the upcoming procurement opportunity to dual the section. It is further evidence that the Scottish Government remains on track to meet the next milestones of the A9 Dualling delivery plan, with the contract notice for the Pitlochry to Killiecrankie section and contract award for the section between Tay Crossing to Ballinluig both expected in the coming months.

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