Transport Scotland has confirmed a £1.94 billion investment to dual the remaining sections of the A9 between Perth and Inverness, saying the programme will deliver a safer, more reliable route while supporting jobs and growth across Scotland. The move comes with the publication of a major new framework inviting contractors to bid for the last 58 miles of the project still to enter procurement.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said the scheme is intended to leave a lasting social and economic legacy as well as new road infrastructure. She said: “The A9 Dualling Programme is about far more than infrastructure: it is about strengthening connections between the Highlands and the Central Belt, supporting economic growth, and local communities by creating opportunities for people and businesses across Scotland.”
Transport Scotland has moved to an early contractor involvement model for the remaining work, after consulting with the construction industry. The agency says the framework approach is designed to improve collaboration, encourage competition and “provide an estimated £1.94 billion pipeline of work to deliver a safer, more reliable A9”.
In Case You Missed It:
Officials say the programme will be used to drive wider benefits for workers and businesses, including local supply chains. A spokesperson said: “This programme is creating real opportunities for people, helping to build skills and careers while delivering essential infrastructure.” They added that the framework “will build on this, driving economic growth across Scotland through the A9 Dualling Programme’s Social Value Programme”.
The contracts are expected to support apprentices, graduates and new entrants into the workforce, and to “provide jobs across local and regional economies”. Transport Scotland also wants bidders to prioritise innovative, lower-carbon construction methods to help reduce emissions during the build phase.
Under the new framework, the first contract to be awarded will cover the Dalraddy to Slochd section, including upgrades to three existing junctions at Aviemore South, Granish (A95) and Blackmount (Carrbridge). The A9 Dualling Programme is one of Scotland’s largest transport infrastructure projects and remains central to the Scottish Government’s plans to improve connectivity between the Highlands and the central belt.
