Transport Scotland has launched the final procurement stage for its £1.94bn A9 Dualling Delivery Framework Agreement, with a shortlist of contractors fighting it out for the remaining five sections of the A9 programme between Perth and Inverness.
The parties invited to tender for places on the framework, covering the remaining 58 miles of the Perth to Inverness upgrade, are:
- Balfour Beatty Morrison Construction
- Graham
- Hochtief (UK) Construction Ltd
- Kier Transportation Limited
- Wills Brothers Civil Engineering Ltd
The framework is divided into two Lots. Contractors can apply for both lots but are not guaranteed work even if they qualify for the framework.
Lot 1 covers works less than £400m:
- Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing (8.4km): procurement expected to commence Summer 2028, contract award expected Spring 2029, dualling expected to be operational by end of 2033
- Glen Garry to Crubenmore (20.5km): Glen Garry to Dalwhinnie and Dalwhinnie to Crubenmore projects to be procured as a single contract, procurement expected to commence Autumn 2027, contract award expected Summer 2028, dualling expected to be operational by end of 2034
- Crubenmore to Kincraig (16.5km): procurement expected to commence Winter 2029/30, contract award expected Autumn 2030, dualling expected to be operational by end of 2035
Lot 2 covers work over £400m
- Killiecrankie to Glen Garry (22km): procurement expected to commence Spring 2029, contract award expected Winter 2029/30, dualling expected to be operational by end of 2034
- Dalraddy to Slochd (25km): procurement expected to commence Winter 2026/2027, contract award expected Autumn 2027, dualling expected to be operational by end of 2032
Transport secretary Stephen Flynn MSP said: 'I am pleased to see the procurement of this Framework Agreement progressing, this maintains the momentum needed to deliver the dualling of the A9 between Perth and Inverness by the end of 2035.
'The Framework Agreement creates a sustained programme of construction activity across the A9, providing long-term certainty for the supply chain while supporting jobs, skills and economic growth across Scotland.
'The programme is now delivering on multiple fronts, with completed sections in operation, major works underway and procurement of the remaining sections progressing providing a clear pathway to completing the dualling of the A9.'
The entire A9 dualling programme is scheduled for completion by the end of 2035.
In January this year, the Scottish Government confirmed that the remaining elements of the programme will be delivered using capital‑funded design and build contracts.
The total programme involves dualling 11 projects which have been developed individually. Road users are already benefiting from the Kincraig to Dalraddy and Luncarty to Pass of Birnam projects, which became operational in September 2017 and August 2021 respectively.
Currently, 11 miles of construction on A9 Dualling are underway, supporting hundreds of jobs including for apprentices and graduates; on the Tomatin to Moy section alone, the project employs 256 people, with nearly two-thirds of the workforce based locally.
A contract notice for the framework agreement for the final sections was published in June and the procurement process had an initial prequalification stage, with bidders invited to submit their tender proposals.
