The new Scottish Transport Secretary Mairi McAllan has failed to confirm if an expected update on dualling the A9 will include dates for the remaining sections waiting to be upgraded.

The Press and Journal newspaper reports there is also little clarity about the A96 dualling timetable, after questions over the impact of a climate report.

The paper explains major road projects have been hit by delays with pressure mounting on the Scottish Government to take action to speed up progress.

Dualling the A9 between Perth and Inverness will no longer be completed by 2025 with a revised target timescale yet to be published.

In the Scottish Parliament, Ms McAllan told a committee of MSPs it is her “intention” to outline “next steps” for the A9 by autumn this year.

But she failed to confirm if this will include dates for delivering the remaining nine out of 11 sections of the road that still need to be dualled.

The Press and Journal adds work on the A96 between Aberdeen and Inverness is yet to begin despite a 2013 target completion date, and Ms McAllan admitted the outcome a climate review “could have a bearing” on whether the road is fully dualled.

(Picture – Transport Scotland)