Scotland's Ambitious Road Upgrade Faces Delays and Rising Costs

Scotland is currently undertaking a significant transport infrastructure project, one of its largest to date, aimed at reducing travel times between two major UK cities. The £3.7 billion A9 Dualling Programme involves upgrading 83 miles of road between Inverness and Perth. This will be achieved by developing 11 separate sections of single carriageway road. The existing route, spanning approximately 113 miles, can take up to three hours to traverse, often due to drivers being delayed behind heavy goods vehicles limited to 50 mph. The A9 is considered a dangerous road, with a high number of fatalities recorded. The project aims to enhance road safety, stimulate economic growth, and improve connections to pedestrian, cycling, and public transport facilities. The overall expected time saving for drivers traveling between Perth and Inverness is approximately 18 minutes.

The project's benefits are particularly significant for local industries, such as fishing and whiskey production, where efficient transport is crucial. Key components of the project include the demolition and replacement of three underbridges, improvements to footpaths like the Rob Roy Way, and the construction of two major new structures at Tummel and Clunie. However, the project has faced numerous delays. Over the past decade, only two sections of the A9, totaling about 11 miles, have been upgraded.

This leaves approximately 77 miles of road yet to be improved as part of the multi-billion pound project. The initial completion target of 2025 has been pushed back. A 10-year delay to the proposals was announced in December 2023. The six-mile stretch between Tomatin and Moy, originally slated for completion by the end of 2027, has been postponed to 2028. This delay was attributed to factors such as weather and environmental restrictions impacting work in rivers and streams. The estimated cost for upgrading this single carriageway section has increased significantly, with the total cost expected to reach £308 million, approximately £111 million more than previously estimated.