Scottish Ministers confirm full A96 dualling won't be completed by 2030

Scotland's Transport Secretary has confirmed the full A96 dualling will not be finished by the original target date.

The SNP Government previously pledged to dual the deadly Inverness to Aberdeen road by 2030.

Following the publication of a long awaited climate review of the project, Fiona Hyslop said the project won't be completed in six years time, but has reiterated the Scottish Government's commitment in dualling the route.

Transport Secretary: "A lot has changed" since 2011 pledge

The Scottish Government have said their current position is still to fully dual the A96 and with the statutory procedures completed.

A detailed appraisal of all the evidence undertaken includes full dualling and a list of other options including a multi-modal ‘Refined Package’ of options.

The cost of full dualling east of Nairn to Aberdeen is estimated in the range of £2.5 billion to £5 billion (at 2022 prices) which compares with a range of £501 million to £1 billion for the Refined Package

Final stages to acquire the land required to construct the dualling of the A96 between Inverness to Nairn and the Nairn Bypass, along with the adjacent A9/A96 Inshes to Smithton project are also pushing ahead.

Speaking after making a statement to the Scottish Parliament, Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop outlined how "a lot has changed" since the initial pledge was made in 2011.

She said: “The Scottish Government’s position has not changed – we remain in favour of full dualling of the A96.

"However, it is important local people, businesses and communities are given the opportunity to help inform the government’s final decision on how to take forward improvements to the A96 Corridor.

“That decision will also have to balance the demands of the challenging economic climate and the climate emergency.

“Since we announced our intention to fully dual the A96 in 2011, a lot has changed, including 14 years of austerity, and ongoing cost pressures that have impacted the Scottish budget.

“We also agreed to undertake a corridor review, a lengthy and complex process, which has taken longer than initially anticipated because of the huge interest and engagement from the public.

“These delays now mean that we will not complete dualling of the A96 by the original anticipated timeline of 2030.

“However, we will continue to make progress with the statutory procedures already completed and work underway to determine the most suitable procurement option for delivering dualling of the key section of road between Inverness and Nairn."

Ms Hyslop went on to highlight how the public now have the opportunity to read what the A96 Review has found in its draft reports and to provide their views in a 12 week consultation.

Findings from A96 Review

A document entitled "A96 Corridor Review", prepared by consultants for the Scottish Government body Transport Scotland, makes the case against fully dullaling the road.

It explained how, "full dualling of the A96 would be considered to have a cumulative major negative effect."

The document goes on to say: "This is mainly due to the construction footprint but also adverse effects of greenhouse gas emissions and local air quality from traffic emissions during the operational phase."

However, it does suggest improvements along the route including bypasses at Elgin and Keith.

Improvements to the railway between Inverness and Aberdeen are also suggested.

The review was ordered by the Scottish Government in 2021, after the SNP and Greens agreed a power sharing deal.

That agreement has now finished, with the Greens earlier this week calling for the majority of the A96 dualling project to be scrapped.

Plans to dual the road between Inverness to Nairn, including the Nairn bypass, are separate from the A96 review.