Draft Designs On Show for A9 Dualling Scheme

Locals are being invited to have their say on the proposed design for the first section of the route to be dualled as part of the Scottish Government’s £3 billion A9 dualling programme – the Kincraig to Dalraddy scheme, valued at approximately £40m, where work is expected to start in 2015/16.

The invite comes as Transport Scotland publishes the draft Road Orders and Environmental Statement for this scheme which is expected to be completed in 2017.

The designs, which also include a new cycle facility at Kincraig, go on display at a public exhibition in Kincraig (Monday 18 November) and Aviemore (Tuesday 19 November) giving locals and road users a chance to comment on the proposals.

Transport Minister Keith Brown said:

“The A9 Dualling Programme is the most expensive transport project in Scotland’s history. One that will exceed the cost of the M74 Completion, Queensferry Crossing and AWPR combined.

“This is an ambitious and challenging programme and we are doing everything possible to deliver improvements and bring forward work where we can.

“The Kincraig to Dalraddy section is the first section of the programme to be dualled and we expect to see work starting there in 2015/16. The publication today of the draft Orders for this scheme is an important milestone in delivering it. We have been working closely with Sustrans and I can also confirm that the Kincraig section will include a new cycle facility as part of a strategy to improve connections for cyclists, equestrians and pedestrians between communities along the A9. This will include upgrades of existing routes and a new connection between Kingussie and Aviemore, of which this forms a part.

“I would encourage anyone with an interest to come along to one of the public exhibitions in mid-November to see our plans and take the opportunity to comment on them.

“Following on from the completion of this section in 2017 and the completion of the Luncarty to Pass of Birnam section in 2019, we will be well on track to complete the dualling of the entire Perth-Inverness route by our target date of 2025.

“On completion, the fully dualled route will bring benefits to road users, communities and businesses who live along or use this important road which links central Scotland and the Highlands and Islands."