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MSP confident of A9 announcement Long-term plan to dual A9 stretch
(about 3 hours 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. The Scottish Government backs a plan to dual carriageway the Perth to Inverness section of the A9, Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson has said.
Nationalist Fergus Ewing said the SNP would not ignore the Highlands route. He said it was a long-term objective, but more immediate action would be taken to improve stretches at places such as The Slochd, north of Aviemore.
His comments follow the deaths of four people - including a two-year-old boy - on the road at the weekend. It was the scene of a two vehicle crash that claimed the lives of four people at the weekend.
Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson told BBC Radio Scotland the Slochd was among several areas being looked at to become dual carriageway. The A9 is mainly single carriageway north of Perth.
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 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." Opposition parties and Highlands businesses have been calling on the Scottish Government to make the road a priority for improvements.
Mr Stevenson told BBC Radio Scotland: "We are planning for the dualling of the whole A9 to Inverness.
"We are planning interventions in the short-term, but also supporting a long-term strategy of dualling this very important road for business and of course to remove the opportunity for the road infrastructure to be a contributor to a number of accidents that take place."
Earlier, Nationalist MSP Fergus Ewing said the SNP would not ignore the route.
He said: "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 in 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. FATAL A9 CRASHES The A9 has been the scene of seven fatal accidents so far this year:1. 26 July Three adults and a two-year-old boy are killed in a crash at Slochd 2. 19 July A 48-year-old man and his four-year-old granddaughter die near Dalwhinnie3. 3 July A 64-year-old man is killed near Kingussie4. 14 June A 23-year-old dies at Tacher, near Latheron5. 4 June Two women pensioners are killed near Faskally6. 19 May A 45-year-old man is killed at Gleneagles7. 29 March A 24-year-old woman dies in a crash near the junction with Kinkell Bridge
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.
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 the route 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 outwith 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.
A toddler and three adults were 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.