The procurement process has formally started for the fifth A9 dualling programme contract 鈥� the 6.4km stretch between聽Pitlochry and Killiecrankie.
A contract notice published by Transport Scotland notified contractors and their supply chains of the 拢205m contract opportunity (at current prices), which is expected to be awarded in autumn 2026.
The estimated total scheme cost for preparation, procurement and construction of the 6.4km project is 拢296m at April 2023 prices. Jacobs is doing the design work.
The project will be the third of the A9 dualling contract to be delivered using Transport Scotland鈥檚 amended form of NEC4 Engineering and Construction contract, which is reckoned to have a more balanced share of risk.
It is anticipated that by the end of 2030, when dualling for this section is expected to be operational, almost 50% of the A9 between Perth and Inverness will be dualled.
Fiona Hyslop, transport secretary in the Scottish government, said: 鈥淭his news demonstrates the momentum building now to dual the A9 between Perth and Inverness. We are delivering on the commitments set in our delivery plan laid out in 2023 and this year we are really seeing work ramp up and with a further key milestone expected to be delivered later this year on the use of the mutual investment model (MIM) for the remaining sections of A9 dualling. We will continue to achieve what we set out in 2023 to deliver a safer A9 for Scotland.鈥�
The Pitlochry to Killiecrankie contract involves building or upgrading nine bridges, including a new crossing of the River Tummel alongside the existing Tummel Bridge, a new bridge alongside the existing Clunie Bridge over Loch Faskally, and a new rail bridge over the Highland Mainline Railway. The section also includes provision for safe walking and wheeling crossing points and improved access for non-motorised user travel routes including the Rob Roy Way.
The publication of the notice comes just after the Scottish government announced its intention to award the contract for the neighbouring section between Tay Crossing and Ballinluig to Wills Bros Civil Engineering. [See previous report here.]
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