More than two months after a major inquiry reported its findings and 13 months on from issuing a new timetable for the dualling, Scottish Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop has sought to offer assurance about transparency and certainty regarding the programme to transform the A9 into a dual carriageway.
But having raised those issues, she was unable to entirely put them to rest despite significant positive elements such as greater responsiveness to public needs that include looking at completing those parts of the A9 that are most lethal, says the Inverness Courier.
On the issue of certainty, Ms Hyslop revealed there are to be major decisions on funding taken towards the end of 2025 regarding a so-called mutual investment model seen as key to completing the project.
She outlined at one point that “the government has repeatedly stated its commitment to delivering the A9 dualling programme in line with the delivery plan announced in December 2023 and has demonstrated that commitment by its actions since that announcement”.
She added: “Decisions on prioritisation of the A9 Dualing programme therefore require to be taken on a recurring basis, as annual budgets are set and individual contracts are awarded.”
