Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop has announced the shortlist of contractors to be invited to the next stage of the procurement process for the fourth section of the A9 Dualling programme, the Tay Crossing to Ballinluig project.

The shortlisted contractors who will be invited to bid for the contract to upgrade approximately 5 miles (8.2km) of the A9 to dual carriageway between Tay Crossing and Ballinluig are Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering, Wills Bros Civil Engineering and John Graham Construction Ltd.

The announcement comes soon after the contract for the A9 Dualling: Tomatin to Moy project was awarded to Balfour Beatty.

Speaking on the announcement today at a site visit in Tomatin, Ms Hyslop said: “Today’s announcement demonstrates this Government’s unwavering commitment to progressing our A9 Dualling delivery plan to complete dualling of the A9 between Perth and Inverness by the end of 2035. Shortlisting contractors for the Tay Crossing to Ballinluig project is the next step in the procurement process and we expect to award this contract in Summer 2025.

“Today I met with Balfour Beatty, the contractor responsible for construction of the Tomatin to Moy project. I have seen at first-hand the complex nature of the work required to deliver this construction contract.

“When construction gets underway in earnest on this section, it will roll continually until the A9 between Perth and Inverness is fully dualled. The Tay Crossing to Ballinluig project will be the next section to reach construction.

“We are committed to delivering a safe, reliable, resilient and dualled A9 between Perth and Inverness in line with our published delivery plan, which anticipates dualling to be operational by the end of 2035. Whilst the magnitude and complexities of this work are considerable, there will be no let up on progressing the dualling Programme.”

(Picture – Transport Scotland)