Galliford Try has joined forces with Balfour Beatty to target Scotland’s biggest roads project – the £1.9 billion dualling of the remaining stretches of the A9 between Perth and Inverness.

The joint venture, which brings together Balfour Beatty and Galliford Try’s Scottish business Morrison Construction, is understood to have been formed to bid for the final five contracts under Transport Scotland’s new NEC4 framework approach.

Selected firms will deliver around 92km of dual carriageway between 2027 and 2035.

Balfour Beatty already has a strong track record on the flagship scheme, having completed the Luncarty to Pass of Birnam section and is currently delivering the Tomatin to Moy stretch in joint venture with Wills Bros.

For Morrison Construction, the alliance marks a return to bidding for major transport infrastructure work after Transport Scotland overhauled its procurement strategy.

The move away from project-by-project tendering to an early contractor involvement model provides a more balanced approach to risk allocation giving contractors greater influence over design development.

The first package to be let under the framework will be the £553 million Dalraddy to Slochd section north of Aviemore, including new grade-separated junctions at Aviemore South, Granish and Blackmount.

The framework competition is due to conclude before the end of the year, with successful contractors announced ahead of the first call-off award.

(Picture: Mapillary)