A major road project has been given the green light after years of delays in Scotland, offering a lifeline to thousands of drivers.
Transport Scotland has confirmed its intention to fully dual the A96 from Inverness to Aberdeen in a welcome move for drivers.
The road project was announced by Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop, who made it clear the Scottish Government would take the dualling forward.
Ms Hyslop has now set out the steps being taken forward to Parliament, which will begin with the dualling of Inverness to Nairn, including the Nairn Bypass scheme, along with the adjacent A9/A96 Inshes to Smithton link road.
The SNP MSP for Linlithgow said: “The position of the Scottish Government has not changed: We remain committed to fully dualling the A96, and we are already starting the dualling process from Inverness to Nairn, including a Nairn Bypass.”
She explained that on top of the advanced works, the new investment will also allow Transport Scotland to continue to take forward “the work to determine the most suitable procurement option for delivering these schemes and further develop the Business Cases”.
“However, due to the continued fiscal challenges, it is planned that we will take forward a phased approach to delivery, starting with the Nairn Bypass, followed by the remaining sections of the scheme, from Seafield, east of Inverness, to Balloch and then on from Balloch to the Nairn Bypass,” she said.
Transport Scotland stated its intention to begin work by autumn, with the hope that the project will be completed by the end of 2035.
Transport Scotland hoped to have work on the new road begin by autumn, with the hope of completion by 2035
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TRANSPORT SCOTLAND
The Transport Secretary added: “We also expect to commence the delivery of advanced works for the Seafield to Balloch section of the scheme during this capital spending review period.
“Despite the current fiscal position and following the A9/A96 Inshes to Smithton and A96 Dualling Inverness to Nairn (including Nairn Bypass) schemes, the Scottish Government will continue to progress improvements to the A96 eastwards, including an Elgin Bypass.
“Next steps in taking forward an Elgin bypass will include further route development and preparatory considerations.”
The A96 connects drivers between Inverness and Aberdeen, with the plan involving the upgrade of 86 miles of single carriageway between the two cities to help increase connectivity.
The Scottish Government has allocated a further £200million to the dualling of the road
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TRANSPORT SCOTLAND
The road is also subject to several speed limits, with it generally following national speed limits of between 50mph and 60mph for cars on single-carriageway sections.
When the dualling is completed, new 70mph limits will be introduced to help reduce congestion along the route, which sees thousands of cars daily.
The Transport Secretary explained how the Scottish Government has listened to the important views which were received following publication of the draft outcomes from the A96 Corridor Review.
“It is clear to this Government how vital improvements are to the route to improve safety, remove strategic traffic from settlements along the corridor and support economic growth in response to the fiscal challenges this country continues to face,” she stated.
The dualling of the A96 has been long overdue with the hope the new road will increase connectivity
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Finance Secretary Shona Robison has previously explained that the A96 Inverness to Aberdeen corridor should have been included in the Infrastructure Delivery Pipeline externally, but due to a production error, it was left out.
To help aid the new road project, ministers announced a further £200million for the dualling in the Scottish Budget earlier this year.