Murdo Fraser MSP has said recent fatal collisions on the A9 Perth to Inverness road which claimed the lives of four people, highlight the need to “push on” with dualling it in its entirety, and is calling on the SNP Government to confirm it will do so.
The Scottish Conservative politician was commenting following a crash on the road around near Dunkeld around noon on September 16, which led to one fatality. This followed three American family members dying after a collision with a lorry on the A9 at Ralia near Newtonmore on August 10.
The A9 Perth to Inverness road has seen many accidents and fatalities over the years and Mr Fraser feels these recent deaths stress the importance of “pushing” on with the dualling programme and clarifying that it will be finished in its entirety.
Concerns have been raised in some quarters that the dualling programme isn’t moving fast enough.
Commenting, Mr Fraser, who represents the Mid Scotland and Fife region, said: “These two horrific accidents on the A9, which tragically claimed four lives, illustrate how vital it is to push on with the dualling project - it must progress and must be completed. It is notable that both accidents took place on single carriageway stretches of the road.
“The crash in Perthshire led to the road being closed for more than seven hours, causing massive tailbacks and delays. It shouldn’t take another fatality to raise awareness of how important it is to confirm dualling will be fully completed.”
Mr Fraser continued: “I previously campaigned to have the A9 Perth to Inverness road dualled and I know how much local residents who live adjacent to the A9, and road safety campaigners, want to hear actual confirmation that the dualling will be finished. So far, this hasn’t happened.
“I recently received an answer from Michael Matheson MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport, to a written question I had lodged. I had asked the SNP Government when work would be starting on the dualling of the Birnam to Jubilee Bridge stretch of the £3 billion A9 project, but all we heard was that a ‘preferred route’ is expected to be announced later this year – that really isn’t good enough.
“We were initially told that the A9 dualling should be completed by 2025, which now looks very unlikely. The road has seen many accidents and fatalities through the years.
“To have four people dying on accidents on the road in recent weeks shows that we urgently need confirmation that dualling is progressing and that it will be fully completed.”
