Balfour Beatty will begin preparatory works this month for the next phase of the Scottish Government’s delayed A9 dualling, with main construction work due to begin in the spring.
Transport Scotland said that, based on the confirmed programme, dualling of the Tomatin to Moy section – the third section of the overall project – is expected to become operational in Spring 2028.
Preparatory works are planned to commence on 21 October, subject to weather conditions, and will include construction of temporary accesses to work areas, erection of boundary fencing, tree removal, installation of welfare units, surveying, and utility works.
Cabinet secretary for transport Fiona Hyslop said: ‘I am pleased that, as promised, the Scottish Government is delivering rapid progress on our programme to dual the A9.'
The SNP administration initially pledged that the whole programme would be completed by 2025 but the scheme’s website (above) now states that the three final sections will not be operational until 2035.
The website incorrectly states that procurement for construction of the Tomatin to Moy section began in September 2023. In fact Transport Scotland published a contract notice in August 2021 but the procurement collapsed in early 2023.
After a redesigned procurement exercise, Balfour Beatty was confirmed at the main contractor in August on a £184.7m deal.
Transport Scotland said that access to work locations will initially be taken from the local road network, which is expected to involve traffic management measures and advised road users to drive with care on the approach to the section of the A9 while they are in place.
Last week it announced that it had awarded Geoservices Ltd a ground investigation contract totalling nearly £635k for the Tay Crossing to Ballinluig and Pitlochry to Killiecrankie sections of the A9 Dualling programme.
