Plans for the first stage of A9 dualling in the Highlands will be publicly unveiled later this month.
Work on the short stretch between Kincraig and Dalraddy on the trunk road from Inverness to Perth is expected to start in 2015-16, with completion scheduled by 2017.
Local residents will get their first glimpse of the proposals at exhibitions in Kincraig and Aviemore next month.
They will also be able to comment on the £40million scheme, which is part of the Scottish Government’s £3billion A9 dualling programme.
The designs include a new bike facility at Kincraig as part of efforts to improve opportunities for cyclists in the area.
Transport Scotland has also published the draft road orders and environmental statement for the scheme.
Transport Minister Keith Brown said: “The A9 dualling programme is the most expensive transport project in Scotland’s history.
“This is an ambitious and challenging programme and we are doing everything possible to deliver improvements and bring forward work where we can.
“The Kincraig to Dalraddy section is the first section of the programme to be dualled and we expect to see work starting there in 2015/16.
“The publication of the draft orders for this scheme is an important milestone. We have been working closely with Sustrans and I can also confirm that the Kincraig section will include a new cycle facility as part of a strategy to improve connections for cyclists, equestrians and pedestrians between communities along the A9. This will include upgrades of existing routes and a new connection between Kingussie and Aviemore, of which this forms a part.
He added: “Following on from the completion of this section in 2017 and the completion of the Luncarty to Pass of Birnam section in 2019, we will be well on track to complete the dualling of the entire Perth-Inverness route by our target date of 2025.”
“On completion, the fully dualled route will bring benefits to road users, communities and businesses who live along or use this important road.
The exhibitions will be held in Kincraig Community Hall on Monday, November 18 and at the Skye Room in the Macdonald Hotel, Aviemore, on Tuesday, November 19. Both exhibitions will be open from noon to 7pm.