Murdo Fraser MSP has slammed the SNP Government saying it “will be years” before dualling of the A9 near Dunkeld is completed.
The Scottish Conservative politician said local residents and road safety campaigners will be “deeply disappointed” at the “poor response” given recently by Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport, to his question on when the final design for the dualling of the Perth to Inverness road between the Pass of Birnam and the Tay Crossing will be published.
Mr Fraser asked the question during a Portfolio session at Holyrood. In his response, Mr Matheson said he hoped to have more information regarding dualling of this stretch in the “coming months.”
Commenting, Mr Fraser, who represents the Mid Scotland and Fife region, said: “It is clear that it will be years before dualling will take place between the Pass of Birnam and the Tay Crossing section of the A9, following details of what we heard today from the SNP Government. We had hoped to get an announcement of a final design for the dualling of this stretch, but the Cabinet Secretary said this will be some months away due to the ‘preferred route’ options being looked at.
“Beyond that, it is obvious that actual construction on this part of the A9 will be years away. Local residents and road safety campaigners will be deeply concerned at this issue not being resolved, having already waited eight years to get confirmation of dualling on the Pass of Birnam and the Tay Crossing stretch of the A9.
“We have seen too many people die on the A9 Perth to Inverness, with 12 people sadly losing their lives on the road last year – all on single-carriageway stretches of the road. Every one of these deaths is a massive loss to the families and friends involved.”
Mr Fraser continued: “It shows the depth of feeling, and frustration, on a lack of clarity on dualling, when the SNP’s Fergus Ewing MSP tells the Cabinet Secretary he will buy a hat and eat it if the SNP target of competing the whole dualling by 2025 is achieved. People have waited long enough for concrete answers on this.
“The poor response we got from the SNP Government is not good enough.”
