The two separate contracts, one for Hardmuir to Cloddach and one for Cloddach to East of Fochabers, each costing £1.2 million, are to be awarded to Raeburn Drilling and Geotechnical Ltd.

Subject to completion of a standstill period, work is programmed to start early next year and is expected to last approximately two months, subject to weather conditions.

Although most of the work will be carried out away from the trunk road and adjacent side roads, a small amount of the work will require traffic management measures to allow for work beside the carriageway to be carried out safely. This may include short, alternate single file traffic sections controlled by temporary traffic signals.

The award comes as new proposals have been revealed for over 40 kilometres of shared-use path for cyclists, pedestrians and equestrians on the project.

The path will be located mainly in the new road corridor and will integrate with existing active travel facilities, therefore connecting the communities of Auldearn, Brodie, Forres, Alves, Elgin, Llanhbryde, Mosstodloch and Fochabers.

The new active travel facilities, along with changes to the alignment design and junction layouts in some areas, can be viewed at a series of drop-ins being held this week.

The material on display at the drop-in can be found viewed on the Transport Scotland website.