The total cost of upgrading a six-mile (10km) section of the A9 in the Highlands is now expected to reach £308 million—£111 million more than originally estimated, according to a Scottish government report.
The Tomatin to Moy stretch, south of Inverness, is one of six projects aimed at upgrading the trunk road from Inverness to Perth to dual carriageway by the end of 2035.
The report on major infrastructure projects stated that an initial estimated total cost of £197 million later rose to £254 million and then in July this year to £308 million.
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SNP Inverness and Nairn MSP Fergus Ewing said a “full explanation” was needed as to why the total cost was not mentioned in a recent Scottish government announcement. Transport Scotland has been approached for comment.
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Two sections of single carriageway, totalling 11 miles (18km) of road, have been upgraded over the past decade under the £3 billion dualling project. However, 77 miles (124km) of the route still need to be dualled.
When completed, the new Tomatin to Moy section would provide about 20 miles (33km) of continuous dual carriageway between Inverness and Slochd.
The project has faced delays, including earlier this month when it was revealed that the section is expected to be operational in 2028, rather than late 2027 as previously hoped.
Last year, the construction contract was re-tendered after only one company bid for the work. In July, the Scottish government agency awarded the contract worth almost £185 million to Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Ltd.
The new report indicated that inflation and costs associated with a change in contract procurement have led to the increased estimated total cost of £308 million.
Mr Ewing said the Scottish government “needed to be candid” with the public regarding costs. He told BBC Scotland News: “A full explanation is needed to say why the whole costs were not mentioned in the recent press release. The total cost will, I expect, include all preparatory work in route selection, design, and obtaining the necessary legal orders.”
Mr Ewing added: “But until such time as the total business case figures are broken down into components and made public, we remain in the dark.”