NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Use 15 February 2010 SNP NO CLOSER TO A9 DUALLING COMMITMENT Perthshire Conservatives have criticised the SNP Government for rehashing announcements on the A9 instead of giving a firm commitment to dual the A9 in its entirety from Perth to Inverness. Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson today (15 February) stated £2.6m will be spent for an overtaking lane at Moy, £2.6m on a road surface upgrade scheme at Ralia and £600,000 on dualling design works between Birnam and the Jubilee bridge, north of Dunkeld. The Moy 2 + 1 lane upgrade was first announced in 2006 - see 'notes to editors' for further details MSP Murdo Fraser and Conservative Candidate for Perth & North Perthshire Peter Lyburn want the SNP Government to fully consult with residents in Birnam and Dunkeld on the dualling of the A9 stretch near these communities. Commenting, Murdo said: “I welcome any announcement which states that progress to dual the A9 is taking place. However, road users of the A9 will be disappointed that the SNP Government has rehashed old announcements and we are no closer to a firm commitment to A9 dualling from Perth to Inverness. “It is even more disappointing that the Moy upgrade was meant to have been completed in 2007. The SNP Government must recognise that there is an opportunity to dual sections of the A9 straight to dual carriageway instead of 2 + 1 lanes. They are proposing a 2 + 1 lane upgrade at Moy but it does not make economic sense to dig up a road to put in 2 +1 lanes and then dig up the same road again to then upgrade it to dual carriageway. I do not see the point in causing disruption to road users with road works to do it again in a few years down the line on the same stretch of road. “Road users want to see long term and lasting improvements to the A9. The Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson has been in his role for almost three years and we are still waiting for a firm commitment and a timetable for A9 dualling.” Conservative Candidate for Perth & North Perthshire Peter Lyburn said: “It is important that Transport Scotland and the SNP Government fully consult with residents in Birnam and Dunkeld on possible dualling of the stretch of the A9 near these communities. These communities must be satisfied with the proposals and back any upgrades due to the close proximity that many houses have to the road. “The SNP Government must show to the people of Perthshire that they will keep their manifesto pledge and dual the A9. It is clear to me that the A9 is one of the roads in Scotland that needs urgent action and upgrading to dual carriageway status between Perth and Inverness.” ENDS 2006 press release giving commitment to Moy upgrade: http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/news/a9-upgrade-package-worth-28m-announced ENDS   back to top of page