As someone who drives the A9 regularly, watching the progress—or lack thereof—on Scotland’s most infamous trunk road has felt like watching paint dry in a downpour. For years, the promise to dual the 83-mile stretch between Perth and Inverness felt like an urban legend.
The Scottish Government's updated Delivery Plan commits to getting the entire route dualled by the end of 2035 through a direct capital-funding model.
A9 Dualling: Tomatin to Moy construction
Where Construction Stands Right Now
If you have driven the A9 recently, you know the orange cones are out in full force on two key segments:
- Tomatin to Moy: Diggers are active on this critical 6-mile stretch near Inverness. It is slated to be fully operational as a dual carriageway by spring 2028.
- Tay Crossing to Ballinluig: Work is underway in Perthshire to replace single-lane bottlenecks with nearly 5 miles of continuous dual carriageway by late 2028.
- Pitlochry to Killiecrankie: Currently in procurement, with the contract expected to be awarded in late 2026 and completion slated for 2030.
The Section-by-Section Timeline
- Tomatin to Moy: Under active construction, completing spring 2028.
- Tay Crossing to Ballinluig: Under active construction, completing late 2028.
- Pitlochry to Killiecrankie: Contract award late 2026, completing 2030.
- 50% Total Route Dualled: Target milestone reached by end of 2030.
- Dalraddy to Slochd: Construction begins 2027, completing 2032.
- Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing: Statutory process ongoing, completing 2033.
- Glen Garry to Crubenmore: Combined contract, completing 2034.
- 100% Complete Route: Final target reached by end of 2035.
Why the Updated Plan Matters to Locals
For those of us turning across oncoming traffic at dangerous junctions daily, the reshuffled plan brings one major relief: prioritizing safety hot spots.
- Junction Upgrades Near Aviemore & Carrbridge: Work on the northern Dalraddy-to-Slochd stretch was brought forward. This means grade-separated flyover junctions will replace risky flat turns years earlier than originally planned.
- Fewer Sudden Bottlenecks: Switching from single to dual carriageway every few miles creates dangerous overtaking rushes. The new plan aims to chain completed sections into larger, continuous strips—reaching 38 continuous miles from Kincraig to Inverness by 2032.
- Realistic Delivery: Ditching complex financing structures removes a layer of bureaucratic paralysis.
While 2035 feels a long way off, seeing actual heavy machinery moving earth on the ground today makes the project feel less like political rhetoric and more like a real road finally being built.