Dualling the A9: No SNP Commitment
In a parliamentary answer to a question over a timetable for dualling the A9, the new SNP administration has admitted that it is only committed to planning for the dualling of Scotland’s most dangerous highway. It will only decide whether or not to commit to dualling the road on receipt of a report in Summer 2008.
MSP Murdo Fraser has slammed the SNP for not pledging to dual the A9 in its entirety from Perth to Inverness. In response to parliamentary questions about timetabling, the Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson stated: “We are committed to planning for the dualling of the A9. Options will emerge from the Strategic Transport Projects Review, which is due to report next summer. We will consider these options and take an informed decision on all the evidence including costs and benefits. More detailed planning would follow that decision-making process.” |
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Major Disappointment
The MSP, a strong supporter of dualling the road in its entirety from Perth to Inverness, commented: “It is a major disappointment that the SNP Government has refused to commit to dualling. Instead, the SNP will only make a decision on whether or not to dual the A9 in Summer 2008 and that is after it has reviewed transport reports. This will anger campaigners and road users who want to see the A9 dualled in its entirety from Perth to Inverness as soon as possible.
“I believe that we must have a pledge from the SNP Government that it will dual the A9... I want a commitment to the dualling of the road now, and a firm timetable for this action to take place.”
He added: “The people of Perthshire, and road users of the A9, deserve to know if work on the A9 will commence and when this work will take place. I have long sided with the road users of the A9 and believe that the road must be improved as too many lives are being lost and the road is holding back the growth of the local economy. I urge the SNP Government to commit to upgrading the A9 in its entirety from Perth to Inverness.”
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