A9 dualling project milestone passed for 15-mile stretch between Slochd and Dalraddy near Aviemore
The longest stretch of road set to be dualled on the A9 in the Highlands has passed a key logistical hurdle.
The Scottish Government has today published so-called ‘Made Orders’ in relation to the future dualling of the 15-mile long stretch of the A9 between Slochd and Dalraddy, south of Aviemore.
That section of the road will be the longest single stretch dualled during wider upgrades of the route between Perth and Inverness, and will include the challenging work required to link up with the already dualled section at the Slochd Summit.
Barring any legal challenges, the publication of the Made Order for the Slochd to Dalraddy section marks the completion of the statutory authorisation process for the scheme, with another Made Order for the section north of Kincraig due to follow “in the coming weeks”.
The latest developments come as Transport Scotland gears up for work to construct the next section of dualling on the A9 - the £308m stretch of single carriageway between Moy and Tomatin, which is expected to start in the spring.
Announcing publication of the ‘Made Orders’ for the Slochd-Dalraddy section, Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said: “Today’s announcement marks another important milestone in delivering our A9 Dualling Programme.
“This is the longest project in the A9 Dualling Programme, crossing the challenging Slochd summit, and demonstrates again this Government’s unwavering commitment to progress our A9 Dualling delivery plan to complete dualling of the A9 between Perth and Inverness by the end of 2035.
“This will be followed with the making of the Orders for the Crubenmore to Kincraig scheme in the coming weeks, meaning that we will then have published Made Orders and, subject to no legal challenges, completed the statutory process for over 92 per cent of the Dualling Programme.
“The only section not to have started the statutory process is the challenging section of the route between Pass of Birnam and Tay Crossing which was subject to a co-creative process working with the community before we identified the preferred route option last December. The design work is continuing at pace and we expect to publish draft Orders for it next Spring.
“We are committed to delivering a safe, reliable, resilient and dualled A9 between Perth and Inverness in line with our published delivery plan, which anticipates dualling to be operational by the end of 2035. Whilst the magnitude and complexities of this work are considerable, there will be no let up on progressing the dualling programme which will bring many benefits to local communities, businesses, visitors and road users living, travelling and working along the corridor including reduced journey times, improved journey time reliability, improved road safety and opportunities for active travel.”
Details of the A9 Dualling programme can be found at: www.A9dualling.scot.
Reacting to the announcement, Inverness and Nairn MSP Fergus Ewing said: “Any progress is better than no progress. But what the Scottish Government failed to say in their press release was that in their own plan the Dalraddy to Slochd section will not be completed until “2033 at the earliest.
“Bear in mind the whole project was to have been completed by next year. Now it appears we must in the HIghlands wait another decade.
“That’s why I led a delegation of cross party MSPs to meet the First Minister and Fiona Hyslop in June to press for swifter completion. I pressed him again at First Ministers Questions on this and he confirmed that is being considered.
“My call is that Fiona Hyslop come back to Holyrood to set out an accelerated programme. What is at stake is people’s lives, and what is required is a fair deal for Highlanders - and safer roads - which people in the central belt take for granted.”
