Yousaf: People waiting 'too long' for A96 climate review
More than 10 years ago, the SNP pledged to dual the trunk road between Inverness and Aberdeen by 2030.
Last updated 19th Feb 2024
The First Minister has admitted people have been waiting "too long" for a climate review into the A96.
More than 10 years ago, the SNP pledged to dual the trunk road between Inverness and Aberdeen by 2030.
However, a review into the route was ordered after the Scottish Greens joined the SNP in Government in 2021.
The findings of that review are yet to be published, with pressure mounting on the Scottish Government over the matter.
Speaking during a visit to the north-east of Scotland, Humza Yousaf admitted there has been a lengthy wait for the review's publication, but didn't confirm when it'll be published or whether the 2030 promise will be meet.
Humza Yousaf spent Saturday campaigning with SNP candidates for the upcoming UK General Election, Graham Leadbitter and Seamus Logan.
Yousaf didn't give a date, but outlined how the A96 climate review will be published "very soon."
He said: "We appreciate the fact that people have been waiting too long for that, and I'll be up front in relation to that climate review taking place.
"We believe we'll be in a position to have that review completed and published very soon.
"I give people an absolute assurance that if you look at what we've said recently around A9 dualling, our budget for 2024/25, we're making sure that we're putting down a down payment on those capital infrastructure projects."
Following last week's fatal crash on the A96 which claimed two lives, Yousaf expressed his sympathies.
However, the First Minister did not confirm whether 2030 is still the target for dualling the Inverness to Aberdeen road.
He added: "Let me pass my condolences to those who have lost loved ones on any of our roads, be it the A96, the A9 or indeed any road across Scotland.
"That's one of the main reasons why we want to fully dual the A9, Perth to Inverness, and of course make progress on the A96.
"Once we have the review complete and we're able to give some detail on what the A96 project will look like, that will then inform our timescales and the costs involved."
'The need to fully dual the A96 is vital' Douglas Ross
Speaking before Humza Yousaf visited Moray, the region's Conservative MP Douglas Ross outlined how he feels the current Government has not delivered for the area.
He said: "The SNP-Green government he (Yousaf) heads has repeatedly failed to deliver for our communities like so many others outside the central belt.
“Since bringing the anti-car Greens into government with them, the SNP have rowed back on their commitments to fully dual the A96, which is vital for improving motorists safety and boosting the local economy.
"Over the last few days we have seen some awful accidents on this road, claiming more lives, so the need to fully dual the route is vital."