Aerial surveys which will record data along the length of the A9 and A96 routes scheduled to be dualled, are to begin shortly after a £590,000 contract was awarded.

The data will be used in conjunction with land surveys and will provide information to help compile computer ground models which are essential for the design work.

Subject to the mandatory standstill period, Blom Aerofilms Limited will be awarded the contract.

The firm will survey the A9 corridor from Perth to Inverness and A96 corridor from Inverness to Aberdeen.

Transport Minister Keith Brown said: "There is a great deal of work going on to take forward this Government's commitment to dual the A9 and although less advanced, the A96 dualling work is now starting to gather pace.

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"The aerial topographical surveys will help support the ongoing preliminary design work on the A9 and help inform the early engineering services work that has now started on the A96 dualling programme.

"We recently held a series of public exhibitions on the A9 dualling programme and as our proposals for dualling the A9 are developed we will provide further opportunities for the public to participate in the decision-making process."

Mr Brown added: "Following on from the public consultation last year on the Inverness to Nairn, including Nairn Bypass proposals, a further public consultation is planned for later this year on the implications of the options under consideration with a view to confirming a preferred route by 2014.

"These public exhibitions will also provide information on the developing A96 dualling programme and set out the challenges that we face in dualling this important road that links Scotland’s two northernmost cities and bisects a number of communities in towns where bypasses will need to be built."

Earlier this month, Transport Scotland released new details on three contracts worth up to £60m each for the design of a new dual carriageway on the A9. It said the contracts covered Birnam to Glen Garry, Glen Garry to Dalraddy and Dalraddy to Inverness.

The scheme which will upgrade 80 miles (128.7km) of single carriageway on the A9 is expected to cost £3bn.

(JP/MH)