Transport Scotland has announced it will award two advance works contracts, worth £2.2 million, as part of the preparatory works for the A9 Dualling: Tomatin to Moy project.

Inverness based AOC Holdings Ltd was announced as the successful tenderer for an archaeology contract worth approximately £650,000 and Wills Bros Civil Engineering Ltd has been announced as the successful tenderer following the competition for approx. £1.5 million of enabling works near Tomatin Distillery utilising Transport Scotland's existing A9 Advance Works Framework.

Minister for Transport, Mr Graeme Dey, who visited the area at the end of November to view rail bridge replacement works on the Highland Mainline at Lynebeg, said: "This announcement of a further two advance works contracts shows significant progress on the A9 Dualling: Tomatin to Moy project.

"And I'm delighted to note, that even at this early stage of the project, a local business has secured a contract for these preliminary works and is already set to benefit from this major infrastructure investment in the Highland economy.

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"These advance works in preparation for the main construction contract to dual the A9 between Tomatin and Moy, offer attractive contract opportunities for small and medium enterprises and will help reduce the risk of delays to the construction programme, whilst also reducing the impact of the future dualling works on local businesses and residents."

It is anticipated that AOC Holdings Ltd will begin excavation of key areas of land within the project boundary in February 2022, and will carry out detailed earthwork and landscape surveys, including a programme of trial trenching, followed by post excavation assessment and reporting.

Transport Scotland is one of the largest funders of development-led archaeological works in Scotland and is committed to meeting its statutory requirements in relation to mitigating the impact that trunk road projects have on the Historic Environment.

The planned works near the Tomatin Distillery, which will be undertaken by civil engineering contractors, Wills Bros Civil Engineering Ltd, will include widening of the existing C1121 Tomatin to Kylachy Road, south of the Distillery, and the construction of a new access road to the Distillery. The new access road will eventually link to the A9 grade-separated (two level) Tomatin Junction once constructed under the future dualling works.

The Tomatin Distillery contract also includes the replacement of an existing footbridge over the Allt na Frithe with a new pedestrian footbridge and works are expected to begin on site in early 2022.

These specialised contracts can help avoid delays to the main construction programme and often provide the opportunity for effective educational and community engagement.

Transport Scotland anticipates the construction contract for the main A9 Dualling: Tomatin to Moy project will be awarded in the second half of 2022.