ASH Regan apologised on behalf of the SNP for “backtracking” on the deadline for delivering a “crucial” infrastructure project.

The leadership candidate said abandoning the 2025 deadline for widening the A9 between Perth and Inverness to make it a dual carriageway was a “total drop of the ball” as she pledged to crack the whip with civil servants working on the project.

It was announced earlier this month that the £3 billion project – Scotland’s largest infrastructure project – would not be delivered on time.

Regan said the failure was “unacceptable” and communities along the route – which has witnessed a number of deadly crashes – felt they were being side-lined because they were too remote from those in power in Edinburgh.

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The former community safety minister said she would create an “imposing and visible” progress tracker in St Andrew's House to remind civil servants in the capital of the urgency of the project.

Transport Scotland is based around two miles away from St Andrew's House at Victoria Quay in Leith with other staff working in Atlantic Quay in Glasgow. 

Regan said: “This is a total drop of the ball. We debated at conference, we made a manifesto promise, we approved the work in parliament, and then we failed to deliver. Trust is everything in politics and this is not acceptable. On behalf of the SNP I sincerely apologise.

“I have visited many of the northern communities this weekend and the feelings of anger and betrayal are real and heartfelt. This is a project that needs serious attention and a new way of thinking.

"One of things that struck me while I listened is that many of the people I met have better knowledge and input than those working at the heart of government on this issue. The economics of the project gives it importance as a national priority.

"The feeling is that the project is too far north of Holyrood for the people in the positions of power to fully appreciate how slow progress is - I have agreed I would establish a project tracker that is both imposing and visible in the front foyer of St Andrew's House, forcing a daily reminder to check in on progress.”

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She pledged to appoint a project director to manage the work and said they would give progress updates every month and report to parliament on a quarterly basis.

Regan added: “My project director would be expected to give public updates every month and submissions to parliament every quarter.

“I would ensure all data was made public immediately, rather than being hidden until requested via Freedom of Information Act requests.

“With greater scrutiny and accountability, I genuinely believe that even though delays have occurred – and may occur again due to external factors – there would be a better chance of a quicker success and the communities would feel acknowledged in their grievance.”

The project has been a headache for the incumbent Scottish Government, with transport minister Jenny Gilruth recently telling MSPs the project would not be delivered on time after only one firm made a bid for the contract.

She told parliament the figure they suggested was too high to be considered and that the contract would be put out to tender once more, aiming to have a firm appointed to widen the road between Tomatin and Moy before the end of this year.

Transport Scotland told The National the project already had a director and a "full team" working on dualling the A9.