How many more people need to die? Fergus Ewing tells the Scottish Government 'no more excuses' on A9 dualling
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Demands for a new timetable for the A9 dualling work to be delivered before the summer recess are being made in the wake of another death on the road – this time of an 18-year-old on Friday.
The tragedy in Mr Ewing’s Inverness and Nairn constituency prompted the SNP MSP to write to transport minister Kevin Stewart calling for action, stating: “No more excuses. No more blaming things on Brexit, Covid or even the Ukraine war.”
An 18-year-old man died at the scene of a crash between a lorry and car at Dalmagarry south of Inverness on Friday morning.
Dualling work on that section of road was meant to begin last year, but it has been in limbo for months after the Scottish Government restarted the construction tendering process citing issues caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Brexit and impact of the war in Ukraine.
It said only one contractor had submitted a tender during that disruption, and this was thrown out because it was substantially higher than the projected £115 million cost of the work to dual the six miles between Tomatin and Moy.
The contract award is now slated to be decided sometime before the end of this year.
'Disgraceful lack of progress'
But, with another life now being lost on the notorious A9, Mr Ewing slammed the “disgraceful lack of progress” on the dualling programme.
He said: “I think what people want is not just a statement where they express sympathy but actual facts – when is the work going to be done? when it will be finished? – all in as much detail as possible.
“And that had been promised by Jenny Gilruth, the previous transport minister, and at the time I said and so did everyone else in the Highlands, that was too late, bring it forward to before the summer recess.
“I asked First Minister Humza Yousaf in his first or second week after his appointment [in March] and he said he would consider that to see if it could be done. I also wrote [to him] on May 5 for a meeting on the A9 and A96 – I have yet to hear a reply to that.”
Mr Ewing said that “people are telling me enough is enough”.
Growing public concern – and anger
In the letter to Mr Stewart, copying in the Presiding Officer, SNP whips and also The Inverness Courier, Mr Ewing stated: “I’m writing to inform you that there has been another fatality following an incident last Friday on the A9.
“I have called, on innumerable occasions, for a detailed statement on the Scottish Government plans to deliver on its long-standing, unmet pledges to complete the dualling of the A9.
“Indeed, in the chamber just after his appointment, I asked the First Minister for such a statement to be made before the summer recess – and not in ‘the autumn’ as previously planned.
“He said that would be considered.”
Mr Ewing went on to outline how with each new death there is growing public anger and on this basis Transport Scotland should move forward with a new timeline for dualling the A9.
“In the light of growing public concern – and anger – which this further loss of life has generated in the Highlands, I now once again call for this detailed statement to be delivered,” Mr Ewing wrote.
“I stress what the public, in my view, wish to hear, is a fully detailed plan and new deadline for completion.
“The Scottish Government and Transport Scotland have now had over two years since the last Holyrood election to do this, and so any excuses for more delay will not only not work, but will simply further anger many people in the Highlands.”
Tomatin to Moy procurement being 'progressed'
Transport Minister Kevin Stewart was asked about Mr Ewing's letter but refused to address the points made except appearing to rule out an updated statement before the summer.
He said: "My sympathies are very much with the family and friends of the deceased at this time.
"As police investigations into this incident are ongoing it would be inappropriate for me to comment further – however, as part of standard policy, officials will meet with the Police and our operating company to obtain more detailed information.
“On the A9 Dualling programme more broadly, we remain firmly committed to completing the dualling of the A9 between Perth and Inverness.
"The £3 billion investment (at 2008 prices) is one of the biggest transport infrastructure projects in Scotland’s history and we have already invested over £430m delivering the programme.
"I intend to provide an update on the wider dualling programme to Parliament this autumn.
"The necessary steps for the new procurement of the Tomatin to Moy project are currently being progressed by officials.
"They are engaging with The Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) and contractors, to consider improvements that can be made to both our contract delivery strategy and procurement mechanisms – in order to maximise interest and market engagement in the new procurement.”
