Transport Minister Keith Brown has said survey work being carried out on the A9 will cover an area the equivalent of 30,000 football fields.

Minister Brown made the comments during a visit to Drumochter, where he joined a topographical survey team to see the work they are undertaking. The work will help inform and shape the design of the new dualled route.

Mr Brown said: "The A9 Dualling Programme is the most expensive transport project in Scotland's history and presents some of the most challenging work ever witnessed.

"The A9 passes through areas which are breathtaking and hugely important in terms of wildlife and landscape – not to mention people's homes.

"The surveys currently taking place along the route, including here at Drumochter 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.

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"The extent of the surveys, covering an area of over 22,000 hectares, the equivalent of 30,000 football pitches, is testament to the challenges that lie ahead as we take forward our plans to dual this vital route."

He continued: "In addition, the scale of the work covered by the dualling programme includes The Cairngorms National Park, three national scenic areas, 14 scheduled monuments, one conservation area, 51 listed buildings, 12 Sites of Special Scientific Interest, two National Nature Reserves and 222 watercourses.

"We are also dealing with 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.

“Some very complex and demanding challenges undoubtedly lie ahead, but given our track record on other major projects we are confident of delivery on time and on budget."

The survey work is required to develop the 200 metre wide corridors that were part of the June 2013 public exhibitions into individual projects and packages as part of the A9 Dualling Programme.

The £600,000 topographical survey of the A9 will employ 38 people and will cover an area of more than 22,000 Hectares. As well as engineers on the ground, aerial surveys are also being carried out along the entire length of the A9 and A96 routes that are to be dualled.

(JP/CD)