Transport Minister confirms A9 dualling won't be completed by 2025
Jenny Gilruth has admitted the target is "unachievable"
Last updated 8th Feb 2023
A Scottish Government Minister has confirmed the dualling of the A9 between Inverness and Perth won't be completed in 2025.
The SNP originally made the manifesto pledge in 2007, with the project predicted to cost £3bn.
However, Transport Secretary Jenny Gilruth admitted in Holyrood today the 2025 target is now "unachievable."
Further update later this year
Over the last 10 years, work has been ongoing to upgrade 80 miles of single carriageway.
However, out of 11 sections only two have been completed so far.
Ms Gilruth outlined to Parliament today how procurement for the Tomatin to Moy section only received one submission, which Transport Scotland say did not "represent best value for the taxpayer."
She outlined how this and other factors affected the decision.
Ms Gilruth said: "It is true that the target date set always represented an ambitious challenge.
"It was reliant on the timely and positive outcome of a range of factors such as completing public and stakeholder consultation; statutory approval processes; market capacity; supply chain availability and availability of funding, all of which have been significantly impacted by the events I outlined earlier.
"This has made this 2025 date simply unachievable.
“Transport Scotland is urgently considering a range of different options to provide Ministers advice on the most efficient way in which to dual the remaining sections.
"That consideration will include updating the evaluation of options involving the use of design & build contracts, to reflect changes to contractual terms and conditions developed from engagement with the construction industry.
"I expect to have that advice by Autumn 2023 at which time I will update Parliament to put forward a renewed timescale for completion.
"Our investment of over £430 million to date means much has already been achieved and while much is still to be done, this Government is absolutely committed to completing the A9 Dualling programme."
"Total betrayal" - Labour MSP Rhoda Grant
Labour Highlands and Islands MSP Rhoda Grant called on the SNP to "come clean" over the issue.
She said: "This is a total betrayal of the Highlands and yet another broken election promise.
"Lives are being lost on this dangerous road while communities go without the upgrades they have waited years for.
"It is shameful that on the day Volodymyr Zelensky is addressing the UK Parliament, SNP Ministers are trying to blame the war in Ukraine for the their failure to deliver a manifesto pledge from 2007.
“This is a mess of the SNP’s own making – and the Minister’s desperate excuses can’t hide that.
“The SNP need to come clean and tell us when they will actually deliver this long overdue promise."
Update "no surprise" - Tory MSP Jamie-Halcro Johnston
Responding shortly after the ministerial statement, Highlands and Islands Tory MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston felt this update provides "only more uncertainty.":
He said: "This news will come as no surprise to anyone.
"Those who live in communities along the A9, or who regularly use the road, have known for some time that the promised 2025 date was going to be missed.
"But while the SNP have finally admitted this, we have no new timetable for delivery, no new estimate on costs and no apology.
"The minister wouldn’t even tell me how many years behind this project actually is, or even come clean on when she was first told the 2025 date wasn’t going to be met.
"Local communities have been kept in the dark for years on when – and even, if – this project will ever be completed. This latest update provides only more uncertainty".
Measures to tackle immediate concerns
13 people died in crashes on the A9 between Inverness and Perth last year, the highest level in 20 years.
During the Ministerial statement, Ms Gilruth also outlined what action was being taken to address immediate safety concerns.
She said: "I announced an investment of approximately £5 million in additional road safety measures for the A9 back in December.
"I am pleased to confirm that these have now commenced and are progressing well, as confirmed by BEAR Scotland at the A9 Safety Group last week in Inverness.
"This includes enhancements to signing and road markings, initially between Birnam and Dalguise, and installation of eight electronic signs to display safety messages at key locations between Perth and Inverness.
"Furthermore, a road safety campaign targeting driver fatigue will begin on 13 February and preparations for a drive on the left campaign are well underway ahead of an Easter launch.”