‘Speeding up’ A9 dueling will not reduce project time.

Plans to speed up the A9 motorway have been rejected by transport bosses over fears it would save any time on the project.

Following a request by a committee of MSPs, Transport Scotland said efforts to speed up road upgrades risked hitting the revised 2035 deadline.

The body said it would investigate plans to improve Glengarry’s Dalnaspedal junction.

Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop said the current timetable for the project was “robust and practical”.

Two sections of single carriageway on the A9, totaling about 11 miles (18 km) of road, have been upgraded over the past decade.

Around 77 miles (124 km) are still to be improved as part of the £3bn project, which will stretch from Inverness to Perth.

Delays and rising costs have plagued the repeated upgrades, which were initially scheduled to be completed this year.

Former transport secretary, Mary McAllen, announced a 10-year delay on the proposals in December 2023.

gave The Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee presented a report to Transport Scotland in October. In which the dualization of certain classes was emphasized.

But the body said revising the current timetable threatened certainty about the final cost, which could cause further disruption for motorists and put the project at risk of further delays.

In your report Published on TuesdayTransport Scotland said it had explored whether certain sections should be accelerated on safety grounds, or whether the road should be closed where long diversions could be made.

It said it had considered starting “overlapping” construction on the carriageway to speed up the project.

It also suggested realigning the planned program of work around areas of the road considered least safe.

However, it said its findings showed that the current schedule “achieves an earlier overall completion date if it is rescheduled”.

The report acknowledges that there could be capacity for the Dalnaspedal Junction section – which would involve extending the Glengarry Dual Carriageway northwards by around 0.6 miles (1 km) – beyond its current completion in 2025. will be brought forward from the date of

gave The Tomatin to Moye stretch, which was due to be completed by the end of 2027, has been pushed back. By 2028.

The total cost of upgrading this single carriageway section, which covers a distance of approximately six miles (10 km) It is expected to go up to £308m – almost £111m more than previously estimated.

Hyslop said “real progress” was already being made on the project.

He added that a £5 million package of new short-term security measures would be in place by the end of March this year.

“I believe the report demonstrates that the delivery plan is a strong and practical way to embark on this major program of work over the coming years.”

“We are already making real progress in fulfilling this plan.

“Over the next few months, I expect the start of main construction works on the Tomatin to Moy project, the publication of draft orders for the Burnam to Tay Crossing project pass, the contract award and procurement for the Tay Crossing to Ballinluig project. Patlochry to Kalkiranki Project.

“The A9 safety group will continue to work together to explore any measures to positively influence driver behavior to help reduce the number of people injured or killed on the road.”

SNP MSP Fergus Ewing, who has campaigned for the dual plan, described the report’s findings as “extremely disappointing”.

He said it appeared that Transport Scotland had failed to properly consider the views of the industry when preparing the report.

“Did they have any meaningful conversations with the industry?” he said.

“Didn’t they even organize a ‘market day’ where big contractors are invited to pitch their ideas?

“I feel like they failed to do that despite the absolute need to work with the industry.”

He added: “This is extremely disappointing – and a travesty.”