The Scottish Government’s flagship infrastructure investment project will see around 80 miles of upgraded road being delivered by 2025, with work beginning on the five-mile long section between Kincraig and Dalraddy.

The £35 million contract includes upgrading a five mile stretch of single carriageway to dual carriageway and will be carried out by a joint venture of Wills Bros Civil Engineering and John Paul Construction. This is expected to be complete by summer 2017.

Delivering the project requires over 700,000 tonnes of excavation and will see the contractor lay over 18 hectares of new road carriageway, the equivalent of 25 full size football pitches.

A spokesperson for the Wills Bros / John Paul Joint Venture said: “We are delighted to see construction get underway on the A9 Kincraig to Dalraddy project and proud to have our Joint Venture at the forefront of this prestigious dualling programme.

“Whilst some disruption to road users is unavoidable we would like to thank in advance the driving public and local communities for their patience and co-operation while we deliver this first leg of the A9 dualling programme.”

Cabinet secretary for infrastructure, investment and cities, Keith Brown, said: “With the official opening of the Borders Railway and now the ground-breaking of work on the A9 this has been a historic week for transport infrastructure in Scotland.

“It is no understatement to say that we are marking an important milestone in what will be one of the largest and most challenging infrastructure projects in Scotland’s history.

“I am very proud that the Scottish Government is delivering this major upgrade and, in the weeks and months ahead, people will now see work on the ground as the road progresses.

“When this ambitious programme is complete, enormous economic and social benefits will be felt by communities along the length of the road, and beyond. Today sees the first spade in the ground, with work beginning in earnest to see the programme through to a successful finish.

“Shorter term safety improvements for the A9 are already delivering positive benefits for the safety of the route, with preparation work on further dualling work also now starting to bear real fruit.

“With nearly three quarters of a million tonnes of excavation work to be carried out on this section here at Kincraig alone, we are at the start of a long journey to deliver the entire programme. But we are committed to this programme and we will remain focussed to ensure this work which is now at the hard end of construction, is seen through to a successful conclusion.”