The first of three design contracts for the A9 Dualling programme has been announced.

Each of the contracts are valued at between £40m and £60m, Transport Scotland has said.

The first contract, which will see more than 43km of the A9 dualled between Glengarry and Dalraddy, has been awarded to joint venture CH2MHill/Fairhurst. Subject to a mandatory standstill period, work on the route is expected to begin in May and last for approximately six months.

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Transport Minister Keith 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 appointment of the first design consultancy for this mammoth project marks another significant milestone in this Government's commitment to the project – the first Government to commit to dual this vital route between Perth and Inverness."

The A9 between Perth and Inverness is to be fully dualled at a cost of £3bn by 2025.

(JP/MH)