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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Long-term plan to dual A9 stretch | Long-term plan to dual A9 stretch |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| The Scottish Government backs a plan to make the Perth to Inverness section of the A9 a dual carriageway, Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson has said. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| It was the scene of a two vehicle crash that claimed the lives of four people at the weekend. | It was the scene of a two vehicle crash that claimed the lives of four people at the weekend. |
| The A9 is mainly single carriageway north of Perth. | The A9 is mainly single carriageway north of Perth. |
| I can assure you, and I am extremely confident, that the SNP government will not repeat that neglect of the Highlands Fergus EwingNationalist MSP | I can assure you, and I am extremely confident, that the SNP government will not repeat that neglect of the Highlands Fergus EwingNationalist MSP |
| Opposition parties and Highlands businesses have been calling on the Scottish Government to make the road a priority for improvements. | 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. | 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." | "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. | 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." | 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." |
| 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 | 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. |
| 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. |