Transport Scotland has kickstarted the bidding for an ambitious £155m road-dualling project in central Scotland.
- The project focuses on upgrading an 8.2km stretch of the A9 between Tay Crossing and Ballinluig.
- Plans include improvements such as a dual carriageway, multiple junctions, and extensive environmental considerations.
- Contractors have until 5 July to submit entries, with tender assessments based on cost and quality.
- The project reflects a larger effort to enhance the A9 corridor from Perth to Inverness.
Transport Scotland has formally commenced the search for contractors to take on a significant £155 million road-dualling project designed to transform a pivotal section of the A9. This particular stretch, located between Tay Crossing and Ballinluig in central Scotland, spans approximately 8.2 kilometres and is crucial to the larger objective of improving connectivity along the A9 corridor, which links Perth and Inverness.
The ambitious scheme entails the conversion of the existing single carriageway to a dual carriageway and includes the construction of seven strategically placed ‘left-in, left-out’ junctions, an expansive roundabout, and access routes to adjacent rural properties. Moreover, two significant bridges are to be erected as part of the extensive development efforts.
Key responsibilities under the awarded contract will encompass comprehensive traffic management, extensive earthworks, and the installation of retaining walls. Additionally, there will be a substantial focus on environmental mitigation, with particular attention paid to the replacement and enhancement of existing structures, including culverts and sustainable drainage systems.
The project stipulates a five-year commitment to the maintenance and landscape establishment following the completion of the main construction and planting phases. This ongoing responsibility highlights the emphasis placed on long-term project sustainability and environmental stewardship.
Prospective contractors are required to submit their bids by 5 July, with an anticipated shortlist of three firms due in mid-August. This rigorous selection process will assess tenders on an equal footing of cost and quality to ensure the best value and expertise is employed for this significant infrastructural undertaking.
This initiative is part of a broader sequence of projects aimed at upgrading the A9. Notably, a parallel procurement process conducted last year for a different section encountered setbacks, with only one bid received which was deemed financially unviable. The results of the current bidding process are keenly awaited, with a decision expected to be announced soon.
The A9 project exemplifies a strategic investment in Scottish infrastructure designed to enhance regional connectivity and sustainability.
