A9 dualling project
Dualling work in 2021 between Luncarty and Pass of Birnam, the second section of the scheme. | |
| Location | Scotland (Perth to Inverness) |
|---|---|
| Proposer | Transport Scotland |
| Project website | Transport Scotland's programme |
| Status | Partially complete |
| Type | Upgrade to dual carriageway |
| Cost estimate | £3.7 billion |
| Start date | 2015 |
| Completion date | 2035 (initially 2025) |
The A9 dualling project is an ongoing Scottish infrastructure project to upgrade the A9 road between Perth and Inverness from single carriageway to a dual carriageway. The project was announced in 2011 and began construction in 2015.
A dual carriageway allows drivers to overtake safely, as they do not have to meet oncoming traffic; and the crash barriers on the central reservation will greatly reduce the number of head-on collisions. As most of the A9 is currently a single carriageway, drivers may have to overtake heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and other slow-moving vehicles as they are limited to 50 mph (80 km/h), 10 mph (16 km/h) lower than the speed limit for cars and motorcycles. The project started in September 2015, with a planned completion date of 2025, but has since been deferred to 2035 for various reasons. As of 2024, two sections of the project have been completed—the Kincraig to Dalraddy (near Aviemore) in September 2017, and the Luncarty to Pass of Birnam (near Perth) in August 2021, totalling 11 miles (17 km).
The A9 has been dubbed as Scotland's most dangerous road. In 2022, the number of fatalities rose to its highest level in 20 years.