The Scottish Government has announced its intention to award the construction contract for the fourth section of the A9 Dualling Programme, between Tay Crossing and Ballinluig, to Wills Bros Civil Engineering Ltd. This significant contract, valued at £152.7 million (at Q2 2025 prices), signals another major step forward for the ambitious A9 Dualling Programme.

The announcement of Wills Bros Civil Engineering Ltd as the preferred bidder is the final stage in the procurement process. Subject to the successful completion of a mandatory standstill period, the contract will be formally awarded. This £152.74m agreement forms part of the Scottish Government's wider £257m investment in the A9 Dualling: Tay Crossing to Ballinluig project.

It is anticipated that this new dual carriageway section will be operational by the end of 2028. At that point, 45% of the A9 between Perth and Inverness will be dualled, significantly contributing to a safer and more resilient route for road users. Beyond enhancing journey time reliability and safety, the contract will also deliver a new side road network to improve access for the local communities of Dowally, Guay, and Kindallachan. Additionally, it includes the provision of a new overbridge at Guay South, an underbridge at Kindallachan, and enhanced active travel routes and local path networks to boost access to and from the Highlands.

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Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop emphasised the continued progress: "This announcement demonstrates further progress on delivery of our plan to dual the A9 between Perth and Inverness. Our intention to award the contract for Tay Crossing to Ballinluig illustrates continued momentum in our delivery plan for dualling the A9 between Perth and Inverness."

Ms Hyslop further noted the strategic importance of this development: "When work commences on this section, we will have active dualling works at both the southern and northern extents of the Programme's corridor – a clear sign of the momentum behind our delivery plan." She also highlighted the lasting social value this investment will bring to local communities and businesses.

This is the second contract to be awarded since the A9 Dualling delivery plan was announced in 2023, underscoring the government's commitment to its promises. The receipt of three valid tenders during the procurement process provides confidence in the value for money achieved, demonstrating the positive impact of recent changes to contract terms. "We are achieving the targets we have laid out, and making steady progress across the corridor to ensure that the full route between Perth and Inverness is dualled by 2035," Ms Hyslop concluded.