Firms are being invited to bid for a major A96 road upgrade contract worth up to £50 million.

The deal covers a 26 mile stretch of the A96 from east of Huntly to Aberdeen, part of the Scottish Government's plan to dual the road from Inverness to Aberdeen by 2030.

Design consultancies are now being encouraged to bid for the contract, which is expected to be awarded later this year.

Work for the Inverness to Nairn (including Nairn Bypass) scheme is well advanced with draft Orders published in November 2016. In addition, route option design and assessment work for the western section, covering the stretch between Hardmuir and Fochabers, is also underway.

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Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work, Keith Brown said the contract will provide successful bidders with steady work "for years to come".

"This major contract marks a further milestone towards the dualling of the A96 with all the investment and improvements that will bring to the north-east and the Highland's including improved journey time and reliability, improved connectivity and improved road safety for all those who use this key artery connecting Scotland's two most northerly cities," he said.

"When this contract is awarded later this year, design work for the eastern section will step up a gear with route option assessment work getting  underway. This contract will also provide the successful bidders with steady work for years to come and many more opportunities for small and medium enterprises through subcontracted work, so it will be a boost for the local and national economy.

"At the same time, we are progressing other parts of the A96 Dualling programme with draft Orders published for the Inverness to Nairn (including Nairn Bypass) late last year and design work underway for the western section between Hardmuir and Fochabers."

(LM/MH)