JV awarded £50m A96 design contract

A Mott MacDonald Sweco joint venture has been awarded a £50 million contract by Transport Scotland to carry out detailed design work for dualling the 29-mile western section of the A96 between Auldearn and Fochabers.

Subject to the mandatory standstill period, the JV will start design work on the project next month.

New Minister for transport and islands, Humza Yousaf (pictured), said: “We remain steadfast in our commitment to upgrade Scotland’s trunk road network which includes dualling the entire length of the A96, some 86 miles of upgraded road between Inverness and Aberdeen, by 2030.

“This major design contract marks a further milestone towards the dualling of the A96 with all the investment and improvements that it will bring to local economies right across the north of Scotland.

“Road users will not only enjoy the benefits of improved journey time and reliability, better connectivity between destinations but also, crucially, improved road safety for all those who use this key artery connecting two of Scotland’s economic hubs.”