MINISTERS have been accused of lack of urgency in improving one of Scotland's most important roads after it emerged early plans for dualling of the A9 will focus only on a six-mile stretch.
Stewart Stevenson, the transport minister, yesterday ordered proposals to be progressed for dualling two sections of single carriageway between Perth and Pitlochry – but detailed work will initially be carried out only on the Luncarty-Pass of Birn
am stretch.
The SNP had pledged to dual the entire A9 after it came to power last May. Much of the road, which stretches along the spine of Scotland, remains single carriageway between Luncarty and Scrabster in Caithness.
But a study commissioned by the previous administration recommended dualling the Perth-Pitlochry section in April 2006, and further work was due to have been completed by the end of that year.
The Scottish Government's Transport Scotland agency said the work on the Luncarty-Pass of Birnam stretch would enable it to become an "early priority" in its ten-year roads' programme from 2012. The upgrade will be considered as part of the agency's strategic transport projects review, which is due to be completed this summer.
This means the first new dual carriageway is at least four years away, while the rest of the 18-mile section to Pitlochry may not be finished for more than a decade. It also suggests that dualling the remainder of the A9 remains a distant prospect.
The Scottish Conservatives accused the government of inaction. Murdo Fraser, its deputy leader and a mid-Scotland and Fife MSP, said: "I do not want to see old promises about the possibility of dualling sections of the A9 being given. I want to see a real commitment to dualling the whole A9 between Perth and Inverness.
"Stewart Stevenson has been in his role since May 2007, and all he is doing is rehashing old promises from the old Executive."
Alison McInnes, the transport spokeswoman for the Scottish Liberal Democrats, questioned the SNP's commitment to dualling the road.
She said: "The transport minister is not taking a 'major step forward' in dualling the A9.
"He is merely confirming that he will honour the commitment made by the previous Executive to upgrade the most dangerous sections of the A9."
However, business groups welcomed the announcement. David Lonsdale, an assistant director of CBI Scotland, described it as "a welcome step forward".
Gareth Williams, Highlands and Islands manager of the Scottish Council for Development and Industry, said: "It is right that the Scottish Government orders immediate preparatory work on the next stretch to enable construction to progress more quickly following the strategic transport projects review."
A Transport Scotland spokeswoman said the Luncarty-Pass of Birnam section was being progressed first because it would be a natural extension of the dual carriageway from Perth.
She said: "This government has expressed its determination to progress work on planning for dualling the A9 – this is the first step.
"Transport Scotland is taking this opportunity to consolidate the work done to date and develop an engineering layout with an outline environmental appraisal."
A spokeswoman for the Scottish Government said yesterday's announcement was for detailed designs following on from a feasibility study in 2006, and ministers remained "absolutely committed to plan for the dualling of the whole of the A9".
PLEDGE SET TO COST MILLIONSREMOVING the single carriageway sections of Scotland's longest road to improve safety and boost the Highland economy is an SNP commitment.
However, the bold pledge is likely to cost hundreds of millions of pounds and take decades to achieve.
It has been estimated that dualling the remaining single-carriageway sections between Perth and Inverness would inject an extra £1 billion into the Highlands over 30 years.
The mix of single and dual carriageway stretching between the two centres has contributed to dozens of deaths over the past decade. On the 24-mile Perth to Pitlochry stretch alone, which is used by some 10,000 vehicles a day, two sections of dual carriageway are interspersed with sections of two-lane road.
A 2006 study estimated that upgrading them would cost a total of £127.5 million, including £38.2 million for the Luncarty-Pass of Birnham section.
This would involve closing gaps in the central reservation and replacing junctions at right angles to the road with slip roads to improve safety.
The work ordered yesterday takes the process forward one step, but ministers have yet to commit funding.
