Dualling work on a section of the A9 in the Highlands is to start six months early.
Transport Minister Keith Brown will unveil the proposals for a five-mile stretch between Kincraig and Dalraddy today.
He will tell locals at an event in Kincraig that a £50million contract to upgrade the route will be awarded in about 12 months time, with completion expected 18 months later.
The announcement comes after the Press and Journal called for the early completion of the dualling scheme yesterday.
Transport Scotland has previously put a 2025 target on the £3billion project, which will involve a total of 12 sections in the biggest upgrade since the 1970s and 1980s when bypasses were built around 18 towns and villages.
A online campaign page launched by Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser, which calls for the deadline to be brought forward, has been backed by 16,000 people and a separate petition has gathered more than 21,000 signatures.
Mr Brown, who will be accompanied by Finance Secretary John Swinney for the announcement at Kincraig Community Hall, near Aviemore, said the government’s track record on delivering transport infrastructure schemes “speaks for itself”.
“I want to take the record forward into our most ambitious programme of work to date,” he added.
“Dualling the A9 between Perth and Inverness is a huge challenge – some 80 miles of upgraded road, but we are determined to make early wins.”
Mr Brown said the process would start today with the publication of the £50million contract notice.
“It will allow us to be in a position to award the contract and put the first spade in the ground next summer, around six months earlier than originally timetabled,” he added.
“I have always said that we will bring forward the start of construction on the A9 where we can, and today we are delivering on that promise.”
Another contract worth up to £30million to take forward the upgrade of the northern part of the A96 Aberdeen-Inverness road is also up for grabs.
Transport Scotland has published a notice looking for a multi-disciplinary consultant to progress the development, assessment and promotion of the preferred option for the 18-mile Inverness to Nairn stretch of the route.
The contract includes the Nairn bypass.