THE first of twelve schemes in the £3 billion A9 dualling programme has been brought forward and a contract worth around £50 million put to the market.
Anticipated savings from the Queensferry Crossing programme, along with the progress of the statutory order making process for the Kincraig to Dalraddy scheme, enables work on this to start six months early.
Minister Keith Brown said, “Dualling the A9 between Perth and Inverness is a huge challenge – some 80 miles of upgraded road, but we are determined to make early wins. As the Queensferry Crossing rises out of the Forth estuary, we are anticipating more savings being realised next year from the project’s contingencies, allowing us to unlock investment for the A9 dualling scheme now.
“With that investment identified and the progress in making statutory orders for the five mile long Kincraig-Dalraddy scheme, I have given the go-ahead to get procurement underway. The process to select a contractor begins today with the publication of a contract notice worth around £50 million allowing us to be in a position to award the contract and put the first spade in the ground next summer, around six months earlier than originally timetabled.
“I am determined to drive forward improvements to Scotland’s longest and arguably most important trunk road, and am pressing everyone working on the A9 – both short and long term programmes, to get on and deliver early benefits to users of the road as soon as is practicably possible.”
Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth, John Swinney, added, “We know major infrastructure supports Scotland’s sustainable economic growth which is why we have focused efforts where the greatest effects can be felt. Here on the A9, the longest trunk road in Scotland, the twelve major pieces of transport infrastructure to be delivered as part of the dualling programme will benefit not only road users, but support local jobs and businesses and deliver economic growth through the life of the programme, and beyond.
“The ground investigation work alone under way here at Kincraig is supporting over 30 jobs, with more to come when full construction begins next year. Communities and businesses here and along the length of the route can look forward to feeling all of the benefits of this investment as we press ahead in delivering the full dualling programme.”
