'No more excuses over disgraceful lack of dualling progress on A9', demands Inverness and Nairn MSP Fergus Ewing after deadly Highland road claims life of teen
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
'DISGRACEFUL' lack of progress on lifesaving work to dual the A9 has been slammed by MSP Fergus Ewing after another fatal crash claimed the life of a teenager.
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.
Related: Teen dies following fatal road crash on A9 south of Inverness
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.
But, with another life now being lost on the notorious A9, Fergus Ewing, the MSP for Inverness and Nairn, has slammed the "disgraceful lack of progress" on the dualling programme. He has demanded an end to "excuses" and called on First Minister Humza Yousaf to make good on his leadership contest promises and take action.
Mr Ewing said: "All of us grieve for the young man who lost his life last Friday. Our thoughts are with his family.
"I have and will continue to press the First Minister to make good on his clear promises to set out plans for dualling the A9
"The lack of progress has been disgraceful. People are telling me enough is enough. No more excuses. No more blaming things on Brexit, Covid or even the Ukraine war.
"Weeks ago, I pressed Humza in Holyrood at First Ministers Questions to bring forward before the summer recess a detailed revised plan saying when the work for each section will be done and the dualling project complete.
"He said he would look at doing that. Since then – silence. I will again press him to do that, or his new Transport Minister do that.
"When Humza came to Inverness at the SNP leadership hustings this paper organised, he gave unequivocal promises to get dualling done.
"Highland people have waited for far far too long. Their patience is exhausted. It’s long past time for platitudes and empty promises. We need strong clear leadership from him now."
