The contract from Wills Bros John Paul JV Limited is valued at up to £10 million.

The five-mile stretch between Kincraig and Dalraddy south of Aviemore incorporates five new structures, numerous side roads and accesses to local estates. It is the first stage in a £3 billion project to transform 80 miles of single carriageway to dual carriageway between Inverness and Perth by 2025.

Breedon is investing heavily in its Meadowside quarry near Kingussie to service the contract and ensure that supplies to its existing customers in the area are unaffected. The company is erecting a new high capacity concrete plant and a Benninghoven mobile asphalt plant at the quarry, immediately adjacent to the project, to produce the asphalt and concrete thus reducing the environmental impact of truck movements for the project.

Breedon will supply substantial quantities of drystone, along with approximately 25,000 cubic metres of concrete and around 100,000 tonnes of asphalt to the project. Work is due to begin later this year and will continue through into 2017.

Alan Mackenzie, Breedon Scotland’s chief executive, said: “This contract underpins our order book for the current year and secures a significant amount of work for our Meadowside quarry over the next 12-18 months.

“The A9 is the main route between north and south Scotland, but has been hampered for many years by long stretches of single carriageway. We’re delighted to be playing our part in reducing future journey times on this critical artery and making it a much safer road to drive on in years to come.

“We look forward to supporting Wills Bros John Paul JV Limited and this will also allow Breedon to create great opportunities for employment in the local area on this prestigious contract.”