THE biggest road project in Scottish history was launched yesterday as work started on the £3billion dualling of the notorious A9.
Workmen moved in on a five-mile stretch of the route yesterday as the SNP ministers pledged the massive scheme would cut the carnage on the main link to the Highlands and provide the north with a major economic boost.
The initial work on the road will be carried out on the stretch south of Aviemore between Kincraig and Dalraddy and will cost £35million.
Infrastructure Secretary Keith Brown marked the start of the project in Kincraig yesterday.
The overall programme will involve the dualling of 80 miles of road by 2025.
The Kincraig to Dalraddy section is due for completion by summer 2017.
Mr Brown said: “There’s been the ground investigation works and so on in the past but this is actually the start of construction work on a section that needs dualled so it’s great to get to this stage and then we’ll build momentum to complete the road by 2025.
“This is the main economic spinal route linking the north and south of Scotland. It is vitally important to communities, commuters and tourists.
“It’s important as well to make this a road that people can drive safely and dualling it will help to achieve a safer road, which makes it a very important project for the whole of Scotland.
“The journey times will improve with the dualling and the safer overtaking which will be possible. It really should have been done decades ago, but we are the first government to commit to actually dualling the entire A9 between Inverness and Perth.”
The Scottish Council for Development and Industry has long supported plans to dual the road as a means to boost business in the north.
Its Highlands and islands director, Fraser Grieve, described the start of work as “tremendous news”.
He added: “It will improve the resilience of the road and will enable businesses in the Highlands to compete with those in the central belt without the extra barriers of travel expenses.”
The Kincraig to Dalraddy section will be a joint venture by two Irish companies – Wills Bros Civil Engineering and John Paul Construction.
It will involve 700,000 tonnes of excavation and more than 44 acres of new carriageway being laid, the equivalent of 25 full-size football pitches.
Traffic management will be brought in from Monday, September 21 and motorists will face a 40mph speed limit through the works, enforced by mobile average-speed cameras.
Highland Council leader Margaret Davidson welcomed the start of the dualling last night.
She said: “We’ve campaigned for many years to see the A9 dualled and so I very much welcome the commencement of this work.”
The Independent councillor added: “This is a good start but we need to ensure the remaining stretches are completed as quickly as possible.
“It’s hugely important for us to see the A9 dualled as it improves our link to the rest of Scotland, helps the economy and promotes safety, so we will work with the Scottish Government to see if we can shorten the time it will take to complete this project.”