The Scottish Government has announced that Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Ltd is its preferred bidder for the £184.7m contract to dual the A9 between Tomatin and Moy.
Subject to the mandatory standstill period, Balfour will be awarded the work in the coming weeks.
Transport Scotland said that, once awarded, the deal 'will kickstart the Government’s rolling programme for A9 dualling between Perth and Inverness by 2035'.
Last year the SNP administration admitted that it would not meet its longstanding pledge to complete the programme by 2025.
The dualling works between Tomatin to Moy will upgrade 9.6km (6 miles) of single carriageway to dual carriageway and, when complete, will provide approximately 33km (20 miles) of continuous dual carriageway between Inverness and Slochd.
In addition to providing safer and more efficient roads, the project will provide over 10km (6.2 miles) of improvements to active travel routes and greater connections to public transport along the route.
Cabinet secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said: 'Once work starts on Tomatin to Moy, it will not stop until dualling between Perth and Inverness is complete.
'The award of this contract for A9 Dualling: Tomatin to Moy will start our rolling programme of construction to dual the A9 between Perth and Inverness and reinforces our steadfast commitment to deliver on our plan.
'Major transport infrastructure supports the local community and businesses, providing jobs and delivering economic growth throughout the project and beyond. It has been fantastic to see the impact contractors working on the advance works have already brought to the local community, and I look forward to delivering further benefits to local businesses and communities through our investment in the construction of this section.'
This latest contract for the dualling of the A9 between Tomatin and Moy follows the completion of advance works in 2021 and 2022, including the replacement of Lynebeg Underbridge on the Highland Main Line railway.
An ecological pond was also created to support the translocation of a rare fly species ahead of the dualling works, as well as upgraded active travel and public transport infrastructure, archaeological investigations and outreach work with local schools.
The contractor for the advance works also provided local work-experience placements for students and apprenticeships and opportunities for local Small and Medium Enterprises.
Picture credit: A design of the planned new Tomatin Junction, by Transport Scotland
