A contract notice worth up to £50 million to upgrade the A96 has been published.

Design consultancies are being invited to bid for the work for a 26 mile stretch of the A96 from east of Huntly to Aberdeen.

Expected to be awarded later this year, the contract covers the eastern section of the Scottish Government’s programme to dual the A96 from Inverness to Aberdeen by 2030. The design 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 now underway and we expect to let locals and road users comment on options for the route later this summer.

Cabinet secretary for economy, jobs and fair work, Keith Brown, said: “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.

“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.

“The Scottish Government is delivering major infrastructure projects across the country with construction well underway on the first stretch of the A9 to be dualled, the new Queensferry Crossing nearing completion along with the M8M73M74 Motorway Improvements and the AWPR / B-T project in the north east expected to open in winter 2017/18. This major contract for the A96 further underlines the significant investment we are making in our transport network across Scotland.”