£9m scheme to improve hairpin bend on A9 goes to market

The bidding process has been launched for the £9m A9 Berriedale Braes Improvement scheme.

A contract notice has gone up for the project, which will see improvements to the road alignment and the existing tight hairpin bend. It aims to improve road safety and journey times by removing the need for vehicles to slow down to negotiate the corner.

Minister for transport and islands, Humza Yousaf said the hairpin bend and ‘steep hill’ on the route presented drivers and in particular HGVs and other long vehicles, ‘with a very challenging road to negotiate’.

‘Today’s milestone is a major step forward to delivering the benefits for road users and local communities. This along with a contract notice also issued today for the Maybole Bypass in South Ayrshire, provides the construction industry with significant contract opportunities,’ he added.

‘This brings the total value of contracts awarded and advertised over recent months to £174m, demonstrating this Government’s continued commitment to improving the transport network.’

The bidders, which best meet the criteria successfully, will be invited to tender for the Berriedale Braes project. Work is expected to get underway in 2018.

Details of the contract can be found on ‘Public Contract Scotland’