Significant progress has been made in Scotland’s infrastructure improvement with Balfour Beatty securing a £184.7M contract for the A9 dualling project.
- This project aims to upgrade 9.6km of the A9 from Tomatin to Moy, converting it from a single to a dual carriageway.
- Additional works include constructing new junctions, bridges, and active travel routes, enhancing accessibility and connectivity.
- The A9 dualling is a long-promised initiative, with completion anticipated by 2027, improving transport between Perth and Inverness.
- Transport Scotland’s commitment underscores economic growth, jobs, and community benefits tied to this infrastructure advancement.
Balfour Beatty has emerged successful among strong competitors to secure the £184.7M contract for the much-anticipated A9 dualling project, reflecting a significant milestone in Transport Scotland’s £3.7bn road upgrade programme. This particular contract targets the 9.6km stretch between Tomatin and Moy, effectively converting it from a single carriageway to a dual one, with the project part of a broader vision to improve the 128km route from Perth to Inverness. The completed works promise to connect 33km of continuous dual carriageway between Inverness and Slochd, heralding a new phase in Scottish transportation.
The project scope extends beyond road widening, incorporating the construction of four new junctions, the upgrading of an existing junction, the creation of three new bridges, and the replacement of the Moy Rail Bridge. Furthermore, new active travel routes are planned, which will bolster non-motorised transport options and potentially stimulate local economies and ease traffic congestion.
Initially estimated at £150M during its tender phase, the project’s cost has increased, yet this has not deterred interest from firms, with Balfour Beatty edging out competitors Graham and Sacyr UK. The contract award follows the successful completion of preliminary works in 2021 and 2022, which included infrastructure enhancements like the replacement of Lynebeg Underbridge on the Highland Main Line railway.
The planning and implementation of these improvements are part of a long-standing commitment by the Scottish Government, first articulated through promises of comprehensive dualling of the A9. This initiative stands as a testament to ongoing governmental efforts to fulfil its infrastructure agenda, although the process has encountered setbacks, particularly in terms of contract management issues.
Upon completion, the A9 Dualling: Tomatin to Moy project will increase the dualled proportion of the A9 from 35% to 40%, with further enhancements subsequently planned for the Tay Crossing to Ballinluig section, which is expected to be finished by 2028. Transport Scotland’s approach reflects both their strategic planning in infrastructure advancements and their response to socio-economic needs, as underscored by Fiona Hyslop, the cabinet secretary for transport.
This strategic infrastructure undertaking by Balfour Beatty and Transport Scotland marks a vital step towards enhanced regional connectivity and economic growth.
