WATCH: Should the A96 Inverness to Aberdeen road be dualled?
The dualling of the A96 has been thrown into doubt after Transport Scotland announced a “review” of the massive project as part of its consultation process that launched yesterday.
Since the Greens joined the SNP in government fears have been rife that the SNP’s 2021 manifesto promise that the party committed “to dualling the A9 and A96 and remain committed to completing both programmes” would be undermined.
Business leaders, politicians across the political spectrum and those concerned about the almost 2000 accidents the current route saw between 2016 and 2000 are worried the door has been opened to cancel the plans.
Transport Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “We remain committed to delivering improvements along the A96 corridor. The current plan is to fully dual the route between Inverness and Aberdeen.”
But she added: “However, we have agreed to conduct a transparent, evidence-based review of the A96 Dualling Programme including a climate compatibility assessment. That is sensible good governance for major investment of that level.”
We spoke to locals about the issue to get their thoughts.
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