1 week Ago By Rachel Amery and Alastair Dalton
There is a long and often complicated history to the A9 dualling project . Initially agreed by the SNP Government back in 2011, the road was supposed to be fully dualled between Perth and Inverness by next year. However, only 11 miles of the road has been done and the project has been hounded with delays, mishaps and infighting.
The Scotsman takes a look back at the key moments in the A9 dualling project , and sets out what the Scottish Government has now promised to deliver in the future. 2006 The Scottish Conservatives start campaigning in the Scottish Parliament for the A9 to be fully dualled between Perth and Inverness. A study commissioned by the Labour-Lib Dem Scottish Executive recommends the A9 should be dualled between Perth and Pitlochry 2007 The SNP is elected to the Scottish Government for the first time in May with a pledge to “take forward key improvements to nationally significant trunk routes, including the A9” Alex Salmond appoints Stewart Stevenson as transport, infrastructure and climate change minister Weeks after being elected, SNP Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said: “We are committed to a plan for dualling of the A9.
” 2008 The strategic transport projects review recommended dualling the A9 between Perth and Inverness in December. The Scottish Government orders preparatory work is progressed on the Luncarty to Pass of Birnam stretch in March. In August, First Minister Alex Salmond promised to dual the A9 between Perth and Inverness during a cabinet meeting in Inverness.
The cost of dualling the A9 is predicted to be nearly £3 billion 2010 Work is launched on a two-mile extension of the dual carriageway at Crubenmore by Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson. This section was finished in 2011. In December, Keith Brown became minister for transport and infrastructure.
2011 The SNP is re-elected to the Scottish Government, and Mr Salmond remains as First Minister. In December, ministers officially committed to dualling the A9 between Perth and Inverness by 2025. 2012 There are eight fatalities and 16 serious casualties on the A9.
A preliminary engineering study and a strategic environmental assessment began 2013 There are six fatalities and 17 serious casualties on the A9. The preliminary engineering study and strategic environmental assessment are published for consultation. 2014 There are three fatalities and 14 serious casualties on the A9.
Average speed cameras are introduced on the A9 between Inverness and Dunblane. In November Nicola Sturgeon becomes First Minister, and appoints Derek Mackay as transport and islands minister. The A9 dualling strategic environmental assessment post-adoption statement is published.
The procurement contract notice for the Kincraig to Dalraddy section was published in August. 2015 There are four fatalities and seven serious casualties on the A9. Mr Brown launches work on the five-mile stretch between Kincraig and Dalraddy.
2016 There are four fatalities and 13 serious casualties on the A9. Transport Scotland publishes the A9 Dualling Case for Investment in September, setting out the cost benefit of the project. In May, Humza Yousaf became transport and islands minister.
Transport Scotland partners up with the Birnam to Ballinluig A9 Community Group and begins a co-creative process to come up with a preferred route from Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing. 2017 There are four fatalities and 20 serious casualties on the A9. The Kincraig to Dalraddy dualling section is completed.
The procurement contract notice for the Luncarty to Pass of Birnam stretch was published in April. 2018 There are five fatalities and 24 serious casualties on the A9. In June, Paul Wheelhouse becomes energy, connectivity and islands minister.
In July, those working in the co-creative process between Transport Scotland and the Birnam to Ballinluig A9 community group presented their preferred design for the Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing section. Draft orders and an environmental statement for the Tay Crossing to Ballinluig section was published in July. 2019 There is one fatality and 26 serious casualties on the A9.
2020 There was one fatality and 11 serious casualties on the A9. The coronavirus pandemic begins, causing disruption to the ongoing dualling works. 2021 There was one fatality and 20 serious casualties on the A9.
The Luncarty to Pass of Birnam dualling section is completed. In May, Graeme Dey becomes transport minister. The Bute House Agreement is signed, bringing the Scottish Greens into government for the first time.
The Greens are against road dualling projects, but the A9 dualling was not part of this agreement. Road orders and compulsory purchase orders for the Tay Crossing to Ballinluig section are published. 2022 There are 13 fatalities and 19 serious casualties on the A9.
In January, Jenny Gilruth becomes transport minister. In the autumn, the average speed cameras on the A9 are upgraded. In December, a £5 million package of short-term safety measures on the A9 is announced.
2023 There is one fatality and 21 serious casualties on the A9. In February, the Scottish Government concedes the completion date target of 2025 is no longer achievable The Scottish Government announces in December that it will take until 2035 to finish the project, which will be completed in six parts Nicola Sturgeon resigns and Humza Yousaf becomes First Minister. In March, Kevin Stewart becomes transport minister - he resigned from the position just months later.
Fiona Hyslop becomes transport minister in June. The procurement contract notice for the Tomatin to Moy section is published in September. The preferred route for the Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing section is revealed in December.
2024 The transport portfolio is made a full Cabinet position, making Ms Hyslop transport secretary and a frontbench government minister. The Bute House Agreement is scrapped and the Scottish Greens are thrown out of the Scottish Government. This sets off a chain of events that leads to Mr Yousaf resigning as First Minister.
He is replaced by John Swinney. The contract for the Tomatin to Moy section is awarded. The procurement process for the Tay Crossing to Ballinluig section begins, with three contractors shortlisted.
The preferred route option for the Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing section is announced. 2025 The original completion date, which can now not be met Construction work on the Tomatin to Moy section is due to begin. Procurement for the Tay Crossing to Ballinluig section is due to begin in the spring, with a contract awarded by the summer.
Procurement for the Pitlochry to Killiecrankie section is due to begin in the summer. 2026 The procurement contract for the Pitlochry to Killiecrankie section is due to be awarded in the autumn. The procurement for the A9 North, which takes in the Crubenmore to Kincraig and Dalraddy to Slochd sections, is due to start in winter 2026/27.
2027 Procurement on the Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing section is due to begin in the summer. 2028 The Tomatin to Moy and Tay Crossing to Ballinluig sections are due to be completed. The procurement contract for the Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing section is due to be made in the autumn.
The contract for A9 North, which includes the Crubenmore to Kincraig and Dalraddy to Slochd sections, is due to be awarded in the autumn. The contract for A9 Central, which includes the Killiecrankie to Glen Garry, Glen Garry to Dalwhinnie and Dalwhinnie to Crubenmore sections, will start in winter 2028/29. 2030 The Pitlochry to Killiecrankie section is due to be completed The contracts for A9 Central, which includes the Killiecrankie to Glen Garry, Glen Garry to Dalwhinnie and Dalwhinnie to Crubenmore sections, is due to be awarded in the autumn.
2032 The pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing section is due to be completed 2033 The Crubenmore to Kincraig section and the Dalraddy to Slochd section are both due to be completed 2035 The Killiecrankie to Glen Garry section, Glen Garry to Dalwhinnie section, and Dalwhinnie to Crubenmore sections are due to be completed, bringing the project to a finish..
