BALFOUR Beatty has confirmed it has been awarded a £185 million contract by Transport Scotland to dual the A9 between Tomatin and Moy, approximately 21km south of Inverness.
As part of the contract, the firm will upgrade 9.6km of single carriageway to dual carriageway, construct four bridges along the route, and deliver new side roads together with various junction upgrades. Balfour Beatty will also provide over 10km of improved active travel routes to promote and encourage cycling and walking.
The A9 Dualling: Tomatin to Moy project is expected to improve road safety, journey times, and reliability for all road users including pedestrians, cyclists and bus passengers.
As part of its commitment to leaving a lasting legacy for the communities in which it operates, Balfour Beatty revealed plans to reduce its carbon emissions by sourcing local materials where possible, helping to minimise the number of heavy goods vehicle movements and deliveries to and from site.
The business will also utilise digital delivery techniques such as 4D planning to plan and rehearse the construction sequence of the Moy Rail Bridge and Dalmagarry Bridge to optimise the phasing of works, identify potential sequencing challenges, and put in place solutions to drive efficiencies and productivity.
The A9 Dualling: Tomatin to Moy project forms part of Transport Scotland’s multi-billion pound A9 Dualling Programme. It marks the third section of the programme to begin construction following the completion of the Kincraig to Dalraddy and the Luncarty to Pass of Birnam sections, which opened in 2017 and 2021 respectively, with the latter also being constructed by Balfour Beatty.
Hector MacAulay MBE, MD of Balfour Beatty’s regional business in Scotland, said, “We are pleased to have been appointed to deliver the latest phase of the A9 dualling programme, building on our proven track record of successful major infrastructure delivery. The A9 Dualling: Tomatin to Moy project will continue to deliver far reaching benefits to the Scottish economy, creating hundreds of new jobs and stimulating growth of business communities, especially in the tourism industry, as well as improving road user safety.”
At construction peak, the project is expected to employ 180 people, including eight graduate and apprenticeship positions as part of Balfour Beatty’s commitment to The 5% Club and Transport Scotland’s A9 Dualling Social Value Programme.
