Background
This report has been prepared to summarise the assessment findings of rescheduling and acceleration proposals made in relation to the delivery plan for the A9 Dualling programme, announced in December 2023. The delivery plan anticipates completion of the A9 Dualling programme by means of four Design and Build (D&B) contracts and, subject to on-going due diligence and further decision making in late 2025, two Mutual Investment Model (MIM) contracts. Details of the delivery plan are shown below.
Figure 1
This figure summarises the delivery plan for the A9 Dualling programme on a stylised map of Scotland, highlighting the route of the A9 between Perth and Inverness.
The A9 Dualling programme is divided into three sections: A9 Dualling North, A9 Dualling Central and A9 Dualling South.
The A9 Dualling North section comprises four projects, procured by means of three contracts. These are:
- Tomatin to Moy project procured as a Design and Build contract: Procurement began September 2023, Contract awarded Summer 2024, Dualling operational by end Spring 2028;
- Dalraddy to Slochd and Crubenmore to Kincraig projects procured as a Mutual Investment Model contract: Procurement begins Winter 2026/27, Contract award Autumn 2028, Dualling operational by end 2033; and
- Kincraig to Dalraddy project procured as a Design and Build contract: Dualling operational September 2017.
The A9 Dualling Central section comprises three projects, procured by means of one contract. These are:
- Dalwhinnie to Crubenmore, Glen Garry to Dalwhinnie and Killiecrankie to Glen Garry projects as a Mutual Investment Model contract: Procurement begins Winter 2028/29, Contract award Autumn 2030, Dualling operational by end 2035.
The A9 Dualling South section comprises four projects, procured by means of four contracts. These are:
- Pitlochry to Killiecrankie project procured as a Design and Build contract: Procurement begins Summer 2025, Contract award Autumn 2026, Dualling operational by end Spring 2030;
- Tay Crossing to Ballinluig project procured as a Design and Build contract: Procurement began Spring 2024, Contract award Summer 2025, Dualling operational by end 2028;
- Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing project procured as a Design and Build contract: Procurement begins Summer 2027, Contract award Autumn 2028, Dualling operational by end 2032; and
- Luncarty to Pass of Birnam procured as a Design and Build contract: Dualling operational August 2021.
Dates are subject to completion of statutory processes and any impacts on construction from events such as adverse weather.
Use of Mutual Investment Model contracts is subject to further decision making in late 2025, based on an updated assessment of expected market conditions.
The percentage of the A9 corridor between Perth and Inverness which is dual carriageway:
- at end 2023: 35%
- at end 2030: 48%
- at end 2031: 53%
- at end 2033: 85%
- at end 2035: 100%
These rescheduling and acceleration proposals have been made in the anticipation that they would generate benefits in comparison to the A9 Dualling delivery plan announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition in December 2023. The particular proposals considered in this report are summarised in Table 1.
| Proposal | Description |
|---|---|
| Rescheduling based on safety | This proposal suggests rescheduling the delivery plan to improve sections of road with a poorer safety record earlier than sections of road with a better safety record. |
| Rescheduling based on lengthy diversions | This proposal suggests rescheduling the delivery plan to improve sections of road where closures of the existing single carriageway would result in lengthy diversions earlier than sections of road where local diversions are available. |
| Accelerating completion of the A9 Dualling programme | This proposal suggests that the delivery plan should be accelerated to achieve an earlier completion date than currently set out in the delivery plan. |
This report sets out contextual information and assessment findings related to these proposals, based on which recommendations regarding these proposals have been developed.