The cost of maintaining crumbling parts of the A96 has more than doubled over the last five years, soaring to almost £17 million, new figures reveal.
North East MSP Douglas Lumsden said the huge costs illustrate that the road between Aberdeen and Inverness is “not fit for the 21st century”.
He has now called on the SNP government to finally commit to fully dualling the road before the start of the new parliamentary term in August.
In the last year alone, a staggering £16.9 million has been spent on repairing the major route, the highest figure since Covid when just £7.7m was forked out, totalling a rise of around 120%.
The cost of repairs stood at £14.9m in 2023/24, £11.8m in 2022/23 and £13.4m in 2021/22.
The “eye-watering” increase comes a month after 76% of respondents to the Scottish Government’s consultation said they wanted the A96 to be dualled in full after the SNP promised to upgrade the road 14 years ago.
Scottish Conservative North East MSP Douglas Lumsden said: “These eye-watering figures show the crumbling A96 is not fit for the 21st century.
“After decades of neglect by the SNP, it’s no surprise that repair costs are soaring each year as the road falls into a state of disrepair.
“This is the tragic reality of the dangers the road poses, yet the transport minister continues to kick the prospect of fully dualling the road into the long grass, despite the SNP’s promise 14 years ago.
“That is why I am calling on Fiona Hyslop to stop this nonsense and commit to the full upgrade, once and for all, before parliament resumes.
“The Scottish Government’s failure to properly improve the A96 betrays local communities, undermines the North East’s future connectivity and endangers lives.
“Rather than spending endless sums patching up the A96, the SNP must prioritise dualling the road as a matter of urgency.”
