Transport minister Derek Mackay visited Kincraig today to view the progress being made to construct the first stretch of the A9 Dualling Programme between Perth and Inverness.

As part of this £3 billion investment, phase two of the ground investigation work now underway for the 7.5km section between Kincraig and Dalraddy, will provide construction companies bidding for the £50m contract with more detailed information on the ground conditions.

Mr Mackay said work on the Kincraig-Dalraddy scheme is expected to start this summer.

He added: “The Scottish Government has made dualling of the A9 a priority – I am proud that we are the first administration ever to do so – and I am delighted to see ground investigation work underway ahead of construction starting this summer. After years of talk about the A9 upgrade, regular road users will soon see that investment being delivered.

“Making the A9 safer is our key priority as work to upgrade Scotland’s longest trunk road progresses – with one of our safety measures already showing positive changes to driver behaviour.

“The first data sets have been published this week since average speed cameras were installed and we have noted overall speeding has reduced, with excessive speeding down by 97 per cent. Journey time reliability has also improved, and hauliers are reporting significant reductions in their journey times.

“These improvements should be welcomed and in addition to these safety measures, we are the first government to make the £3 billion commitment to dual the A9 from Perth to Inverness which will further improve the safety record of this road.

“The next phase of ground investigation work on the Kincraig-Dalraddy scheme will give more detailed information for construction companies bidding to build this section of upgraded road. Construction work which is due to start this summer will mark the beginning of a series of major upgrades amounting to around 130km of new upgraded road.

“Despite a 26 per cent cut to our Cabinet Budget by the UK Treasury, we are delivering on our commitment to dual the A9 as early as possible having already brought this scheme forward by around six months. This latest milestone on the Kincraig to Dalraddy section demonstrates the rapid progress being made and, notwithstanding the major challenges the scheme presents, we will continue to press for early wins as this unprecedented road improvement scheme moves ahead.”

Raeburn Drilling & Geotechnical Ltd have been appointed, on behalf of Transport Scotland to carry out the ground investigation work.