It’s been revealed that design consultants have been paid almost twice as much as has been spent on the actual construction so far of stretches of dual carriageway on the A9 in Scotland.

The Press and Journal Newspaper reports £246.7 million – more than half of the total money spent on the project so far – has been handed over to cover “preparation costs” including designers.

It says this is in comparison to the £133 million spent on construction, £62 million spent on ground investigation and surveys, and £9 million on land purchases.

The latest costs were revealed following a freedom of information request to the Scottish Government.

Completion of the project to dual the stretch between Perth and Inverness has been delayed by 10 years until 2035.

(Picture – Transport Scotland)