A9 Road (Scotland) - Upgrades

Upgrades

The 138 mile (222 km) section between Bridge of Allan and Inverness, via Perth, was substantially rebuilt during the 1970s, '80s, and early '90s, but it follows essentially the same route except where it skirts towns and villages instead of running through their centres. Between Perth and Inverness the road has been dubbed the Killer, because of accidents and fatalities where dual-carriageway sections merge into single-carriageway - the principal cause being motorists driving at excessive speeds to overtake lines of slower-moving vehicles before the dual carriageway ends. The non-grade separated junctions along the northern sections where drivers make a right turn across the opposing traffic flow is another common cause of accidents. Since 2007, the Scottish Government has given serious consideration to converting the entire Perth-Inverness section to dual carriageway with more grade separated junctions, at an estimated cost of £600 million. The Scottish Parliament, where the SNP government at the time was in minority, voted to go ahead with the controversial Edinburgh Trams project. This resulted in the funding which would have significantly dualled the A9, being diverted to a project which has faced severe delays.

In late 2008 the Scottish Government's transport plan for the next 20 years was announced. It brings forward planned improvements to the A9 in an attempt to stimulate the economy and protect jobs.

Work costing a total of £8.5 million will take place at Moy, Carrbridge and Bankfoot. Northbound overtaking lanes will be created and the carriageways reconstructed at both Moy and Carrbridge. Junction improvements will also be made at Moy, with work under way from September 2009. The Carrbridge scheme was due to begin in February 2009.

Nationally, an extra £38 million was to be spent in the 2008 financial year, followed by a further £232 million in 2009 and 2010.

It is estimated the move will help support in the region of around 4000 jobs across Scotland.

In November 2011 the Scottish Government announced that it will upgrade the entire road from Perth to Inverness to dual carriageway, although work would not be completed until 2025.