Transport Minister Keith Brown has vowed to continue looking for ways to bring forward dualling sections of the A9.

However, he warned that upgrading the 80 miles of single carriageway was "challenging and complex".

The A9 is Scotland's longest trunk road and the Scottish Government is currently investing £3bn to upgrade the route between Perth and Inverness. It is the most expensive transport project in the country's history.

Minister Brown has also confirmed that a number of sections of the road will be dualled well before 2025, with more than 50% of the dualling due to be completed by 2022.

Speaking after a meeting with Free Church Leaders in the Scottish Parliament yesterday (5 September), Mr Brown said: "The A9 passes through areas which are breathtaking and hugely important in terms of wildlife and landscape - not to mention people's homes. The suggestion that we can somehow ignore these procedures and not consult people who stand to be affected by the upgrading work is of course not possible. We are legally bound to examine the possible impacts of the programme on the environment and have already published the Strategic Environmental Assessment for the route for consultation.

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"We were able to explain in detail today the reality that 2025 is very challenging when you consider the design and statutory procedures that must be completed. We are dealing with internationally environmentally designated sites; rock cuttings; building new bridges and widening existing major bridges; public utilities; dealing with the close proximity of the Highland Mainline Railway; and there are currently over 100 junctions that must be incorporated to provide access to adjacent property and communities. We must ensure that all options for dualling are considered and consulted upon so that we minimise the potential impacts on those living in and using the A9 corridor.

"In addition to the route-wide work, we are also progressing design work on three dualling schemes with the preferred routes recently on show for the two of the sections - Luncarty to Pass of Birnam and Kincraig to Dalraddy - with a view to work starting on the latter scheme in 2015/16 and in 2017 on the Luncarty to Pass of Birnam stretch."

(JP/MH)