A carriageway dualling contract is to be confirmed to a joint venture (JV) between Wills Bros Civil Engineering and John Paul Construction.

The £35 million A9 project for the 7.5km section between Kincraig and Dalraddy includes widening the five mile stretch of single carriageway to full dual carriageway.

This stage marks the final phase in the procurement process. Subject to a mandatory stand still period, the contract will be officially awarded in the coming weeks.

Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities, Keith Brown, said: "The Scottish Government’s ambitious programme for the A9 between Perth to Inverness is now well underway with dualling set to start on this first section shortly and designs now at various stages along the route.

"The ground investigations due to start next month between Glen Garry and Dalraddy will also help inform the ongoing design work for the central section of the A9."

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The dualling contract has managed to save £15 million from the original estimate.

Mr Brown added: "We have been able to again make considerable savings on one of our infrastructure projects, following significant contract awards for the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements Project and the AWPR/Balmedie-Tipperty last year, due to our robust procurement process which ensures that all the efficiencies that can be put in place have been implemented.

"The improved road will provide overtaking opportunities in both directions, cutting the number of vehicle convoys and reducing driver frustration. It will also support businesses, communities and tourism throughout Scotland by improving access to and from the Highlands."

Ground investigations work on the central section of the A9 between Glen Garry and Dalraddy is set to get underway.

The £1.1 million contract is intended to be awarded to Raeburn Drilling & Geotechnical, subject to a mandatory standstill period.

Work on the A9 Kincraig to Dalraddy project will start six months earlier than planned following savings from the Queensferry Crossing.

It is the first phase in the Scottish Government’s £3 billion A9 Dualling Programme.

Construction at the southern section of the project will run mainly in parallel to the west of the existing A9, before crossing over and providing widening to the east of the A9 for the northern section of the project.

(LM)