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Mid-Scotland and Fife Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser has expressed his disappointment at the lack of progress being made on the A9 by the SNP Government.
In a parliamentary question to the SNP Government, Murdo asked what improvements are being undertaken to the A9 and whether the dualling programme will start in 2012. In response, Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said:
“Design work is currently underway to improve the A9 by dualling between Birnam and Luncarty. In addition, the current investment programme provides for improvements and reconstruction schemes at Kincraig, Loch Moy, Bankfoot, Carrbridge, Kincraig to Dalraddy, Slochd and Kindallachan as well as providing for a doubling of the length of the dual carriageway section at Crubenmore.
“The Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) provides a robust framework of prioritised schemes, the delivery of which will be considered in future spending reviews. A timetable for undertaking the dualling programme will be set in the context of overall affordability and our commitments to other STPR proposals.”
Commenting, Murdo said:
“It is welcome news that design work to dual the A9 between Birnam and Luncarty is currently underway. However, it is disappointing for A9 road users that the SNP Government is still refusing to commit to begin full dualling of the A9 between Perth and Inverness in 2012. Either the SNP Government has not begun planning for full dualling or they do not envisage it to begin for a number of years to come.
“Road users of the A9 were promised full dualling of the A9 between Perth and Inverness. We are still waiting for a timetable of the full works required to dual the A9 as well as the details of the programme. If the SNP Government is serious about dualling of the A9 then I believe that they should be able to provide more details to road users on this dangerous road.
“It is clear from the parliamentary answer that full dualling of the A9 between Perth and Inverness is some way off due to the SNP Government’s commitments to other transport proposals.”
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