The cost of dualling part of the A9 has been blasted as ‘astronomical’ as it emerges taxpayers will have to fork out almost £31million for every mile.

Transport Scotland is to hand out the £184.7million contract to dual the stretch between Tomatin and Moy to construction giant Balfour Beatty.

The Scottish Government had aimed to dual the vital A-road between Perth and Inverness by 2025 but failed to do so, pushing the target back a decade, says Mail Online. First Minister John Swinney has now been told he should ‘take responsibility’ for his part in the delay.

At six miles long, every mile will cost taxpayers around £30.8million to dual.

More than 20 fatal crashes have happened on the A9 since 2020, with dualling of the entire route considered vital to improving its safety.

Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop said once construction begins on the six-mile stretch, it would not stop ‘until dualling between Perth and Inverness is complete’.

Scottish Conservative transport spokesman Graham Simpson said the ‘snail-like progress’ dualling the road has cost lives and has been damaging to the economy.

He added: ‘Taxpayers’ are having to foot this astronomical bill due to the SNP’s broken promises. Their plans won’t see this route fully dualled until 2035.

‘John Swinney – whose constituents are directly affected by his party’s failures – should take responsibility for his role in this situation when he has sat around the Cabinet table for almost all the time the SNP have been in power. He must guarantee the A9 will be fully dualled as quickly as possible and any contract awards are delivering the best value.’

The A9 is considered one of Scotland’s most dangerous roads, with more than 20 fatal crashes between 2020 and 2023.