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MSP confident of A9 announcement MSP confident of A9 announcement
(about 1 hour later)
An MSP has said he is "very confident" there will be a major announcement soon from the Scottish Government about improvements to the A9.An MSP has said he is "very confident" there will be a major announcement soon from the Scottish Government about improvements to the A9.
Nationalist Fergus Ewing said the SNP would not ignore the Highlands route.Nationalist Fergus Ewing said the SNP would not ignore the Highlands route.
His comments follow the deaths of four people - including a two-year-old boy - on the road at the weekend.His comments follow the deaths of four people - including a two-year-old boy - on the road at the weekend.
The Scottish Government had previously said it was committed to making improvements on the road, which stretches from Perthshire to Caithness. Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson told BBC Radio Scotland the Slochd was among several areas being looked at to become dual carriageway.
Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson was expected to make an announcement on transport projects in the autumn. He is expected to make a detailed announcement on transport projects - including those related to the A9 - in the autumn.
I can assure you, and I am extremely confident, that the SNP government will not repeat that neglect of the Highlands Fergus EwingNationalist MSPI can assure you, and I am extremely confident, that the SNP government will not repeat that neglect of the Highlands Fergus EwingNationalist MSP
Mr Ewing told BBC Scotland: "I am very confident that the announcement that the Scottish Government is making shortly in the autumn will have good news." Mr Ewing earlier told BBC Radio Scotland: "I am very confident that the announcement that the Scottish Government is making shortly in the autumn will have good news."
The Highlands MSP said it was disappointing the government was forced to proceed with Edinburgh's trams project because he said that money could have been spent on improving the A9.The Highlands MSP said it was disappointing the government was forced to proceed with Edinburgh's trams project because he said that money could have been spent on improving the A9.
He added: "It was party political really that the first eight years of devolution there was no major improvements made to the A9. He added: "It was party political really that in the first eight years of devolution there was no major improvements made to the A9.
"I can assure you, and I am extremely confident, that the SNP government will not repeat that neglect of the Highlands.""I can assure you, and I am extremely confident, that the SNP government will not repeat that neglect of the Highlands."
Later, Mr Stevenson said the Scottish Government had inherited a "huge challenge" in terms of improving the A9.
Calls for major improvements on the route have come from many quarters, including the business community and other politicians.Calls for major improvements on the route have come from many quarters, including the business community and other politicians.
Most dangerous FATAL A9 CRASHES The A9 has been the scene of seven fatal accidents so far this year:26 July - Three adults and a two-year-old boy are killed in a crash at Slochd 19 July - A 48-year-old man and his four-year-old granddaughter die near Dalwhinnie3 July - A 64-year-old man is killed near Kingussie14 June - A 23-year-old dies at Tacher, near Latheron4 June - Two women pensioners are killed near Faskally19 May - A 45-year-old man is killed at Gleneagles29 March - A 24-year-old woman dies in a crash near the junction with Kinkell Bridge
Highlands Liberal Democrat MP, Danny Alexander, had previously said any new work to upgrade it would not start until April 2011 at the earliest. Highlands Liberal Democrat MP Danny Alexander had previously said any new work to upgrade the route would not start until April 2011 at the earliest.
He said the timescale was revealed in a letter to him from the chief executive of government agency, Transport Scotland. He said the timescale was revealed in a letter to him from the chief executive of government agency Transport Scotland.
The MP said this would fall out with the current Scottish Parliament's term and undermined government pledges that a revamp was a priority. The MP said this would fall outwith the current Scottish Parliament's term and undermined government pledges that a revamp was a priority.
Tory MSP Murdo Fraser has also said upgrading one of Scotland's most dangerous routes should be the Scottish Government's "number one road priority".Tory MSP Murdo Fraser has also said upgrading one of Scotland's most dangerous routes should be the Scottish Government's "number one road priority".
He called for ministers to set a timetable for dualling the A9 between Inverness and Perth.He called for ministers to set a timetable for dualling the A9 between Inverness and Perth.
As well as the toddler, three adults were also killed in Saturday's crash. A toddler and three adults were killed in Saturday's crash.
A Dutch-registered Volvo estate and a pick-up truck collided at The Slochd, north of Aviemore.A Dutch-registered Volvo estate and a pick-up truck collided at The Slochd, north of Aviemore.
A woman and a girl injured in the crash remain in a stable condition in hospital.A woman and a girl injured in the crash remain in a stable condition in hospital.
The accident happened just a week after a 48-year-old man and his granddaughter were killed in a four-vehicle pile up at Dalwhinnie on the A9. The accident happened just a week after a 48-year-old man and his granddaughter were killed in a four-vehicle pile-up at Dalwhinnie on the A9.