CONSTRUCTION work has commenced on the fourth section of the A9 Dualling programme at the Tay Crossing to Ballinluig.
The opening of the site compound comes after the implementation of major traffic management in the project area earlier this year as work continues to press ahead on the Programme.
The Scottish Government cabinet secretary for transport, Fiona Hyslop, formally opened the main site compound for the project at Kindallachan, south of Ballinluig, marking a further milestone for the project which is expected to become operational by the end of 2028. .
With site clearance works well underway in the area, there is construction work and traffic management underway in both the north and south extents of the A9 dualling programme corridor.
Some 11 miles of new dual carriageway construction is now underway , and another four miles is expected to enter construction following award of the contract for the fifth section, the Pitlochry to Killiecrankie project, in Autumn of this year.
As the 2026 delivery plan, published in January, sets out, following appointments of participants to a framework agreement, the next contract to enter procurement will be for the Dalraddy to Slochd project in the north part of the programme, ensuring that momentum continues to be kept up along the A9 corridor.
Ms Hyslop said, “The progress being made on this section of A9 Dualling between Tay Crossing and Ballinluig is immediately noticeable to those driving on the A9, and the opening of this site compound marks another positive step forward for this project. I’ve heard more about the key engineering features on this section, including the challenging environmental and waterway landscape that the contractor will be operating within.
“After meeting some of the team local to the project, I’ve heard about the positive efforts being made to decarbonise construction operations on the project and plans for the growing workforce on site. Identifying innovative approaches to the climate challenge, and investing in the local supply chain and workforce is the legacy we are striving to leave with the A9 Dualling Programme.
“With our rolling programme of construction activity across the corridor, the A9 Dualling Programme will create opportunities for local businesses and provide a steady stream of job and training prospects for the people and communities served by this vital route. This Government is not just committed to ensuring a safer, more resilient and reliable link for the people of the Highlands, we are committed to ensuring that this major investment is felt directly within the businesses and communities that this vital route serves.”
In January this year, the Scottish Government announced that the remaining sections of the A9 Dualling Programme not yet in procurement would be progressed as capital funded contracts.
The 2026 delivery plan published alongside the announcement shows the pipeline of construction work along the corridor to deliver dualling of the A9 between Perth and Inverness by the end of 2035. The plan results in 50% of the A9 corridor operating as dual carriageway by the end of 2030, rising to 67% at the end of 2032, and 91% at the end of 2034 prior to 100% dualling being achieved at end of 2035.
The Tay Crossing to Ballinluig project involves the upgrading of five miles of single carriageway to dual carriageway and includes construction of a new overbridge structure at Guay South and an underbridge structure at Kindallachan.
At peak construction, this project is expected to support more than 250 jobs across engineering, management, design and construction with a strong focus on apprenticeships, graduate roles and local employment. It is expected that the project will provide at least 15 graduate and 10 apprenticeship opportunities and will include over 270 weeks of training on-site for these new entrants.
