Transport Scotland starts moves to dual another section of the A9 Inverness to Perth route
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A further step forward towards dualling the A9 between Inverness and Perth has been revealed today (Tuesday) with Transport Scotland alerting contractors to a £155 million contract for a new five mile section.
Transport Scotland has outlined its intentions for procurement of the next section by publishing a Prior Information Notice (PIN) for the Tay Crossing to Ballinluig stretch.
The PIN alerts construction contractors and their supply chains to the next opportunity associated with the dualling programme.
The £155 million contract will be procured as a design and build contract using Transport Scotland’s new terms and conditions.
The project involves upgrading approximately five miles (8.2km) of twisting single carriageway, commencing just north of the Jubilee Bridge over the River Tay and ending at the southern end of the existing dual carriageway south of Ballinluig Junction.
Meanwhile procurement for dualling the A9 near Inverness between Tomatin and Moy is currently underway and award of that contract is expected early this summer with construction starting on site shortly after.
The contract award for the Tay Crossing to Ballinluig project is planned for summer 2025.
At present 35% of the A9 between Perth and Inverness is dual carriageway.
Once operational the Tomatin to Moy stretch will increase this proportion to 40%, expected by the end of 2027, and the A9 Dualling: Tay Crossing to Ballinluig project will increase this proportion to 45%, expected by the end of 2028.
Once construction of the Tomatin to Moy project starts, there will be no let up until dualling is completed between Perth and Inverness said Transport Scotland.
In advance of the appointment of the contractor for dualling Tay Crossing to Ballinluig, a programme of advance works will be undertaken in the coming months to help reduce risks to the main construction contract. These works will include ground investigation, archaeological works, environmental mitigation and utility diversions.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop, welcomed the progress on the A9 Dualling programme, and said: “This Government is committed to dualling the A9 between Perth and Inverness and today’s publication of the Prior Information Notice for the Tay Crossing to Ballinluig project further demonstrates our commitment to the delivery plan we announced in December 2023, which aims to complete dualling of the A9 between Perth and Inverness by the end of 2035.
“This step builds further momentum in our progress towards increased construction activity and is further tangible evidence of our commitment to completing the A9 Dualling programme.
“In addition to this positive announcement, we remain on track to award the contract for dualling Tomatin to Moy in early summer.
“We will deliver a safe, reliable, resilient and dualled A9 and we will ensure there is no let up on progressing the work of the programme until then.”
Publication of the contract notice, formally commencing the procurement of the A9 Dualling: Tay Crossing to Ballinluig project is planned in spring 2024, with a contract award expected in summer 2025.
