Plans to fast-track the A9 dualling programme will not bring down the projects build time, writes Peter Brown, which means the current timetable remains in place.
It is on course to be completed by 2035.
A report (A9 Dualling Programme – Assessment of Delivery Plan Rescheduling and Acceleration Proposals) was commissioned by Transport Scotland after MSPs and the citizen participation and public petitions committee queried the projects build time.
Two sections of single carriageway totalling about 11 miles of road have been upgraded, and 77 miles are still to be improved as part of the £3bn project.
Former transport secretary Mairi McAllan announced a 10-year delay to the proposals in December 2023.
The report explored whether some sections should be speeded up on safety grounds or where lengthy diversions could be put in place should the road be closed, as well as potentially ‘overlapping’ construction on the carriageway to speed up the project.
Overall, the report said rescheduling the planned programme of work around the areas of the road deemed to be least safe but acknowledged that the current scheduling ‘achieves an earlier overall completion date than would be achieved were it to be rescheduled’.
Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop said the current timetable for the project was ‘robust and practical’ and that ‘real progress’ was already being made on the project.
A £5m package of new short-term safety measures would be put in place by April.
She said: “In the next few months, I expect to see main construction work start on the Tomatin to Moy project, publication of draft orders for the Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing project, contract award for the Tay Crossing to Ballinluig project and commencement of procurement for the Pitlochry to Killiecrankie project.”
