THE OFFICIAL opening of a new section of the A9 has been welcomed as evidence of the SNP Government’s “commitment to the Highlands”.
Traffic restrictions have now been lifted on the first new stretch of dual carriageway to be completed as part of a £3 billion upgrade project.
Completion of the £35 million scheme has allowed a 40mph speed restriction to be lifted giving full access to the 4.7 mile Kincraig to Dalraddy section near Aviemore, which breaks up the biggest section of single carriageway between Perth and Inverness.
Badenoch MSP Kate Forbes said completion of the stretch, coupled with the intention to dual the road from Inverness to Perth, was evidence of the SNP Government’s commitment to the Highlands – adding that the region had been “totally ignored” by previous governments.
“After decades of talking about dualling the A9, it is fantastic to see the first stretch of the SNP’s investment in the dualling project almost completed,” she said. “Successive governments totally ignored the Highlands, no matter their party or ideology. We’re finally seeing progress on big infrastructure investment.”
Forbes added: “This latest stretch between Kincraig to Dalraddy looks great, and it comes a matter of months after the Scottish Government announced £300m to upgrade the A82 between Tarbet to Inverarnan too. That means both arteries to the Highlands are getting more investment than I can ever remember previously.”
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