Harriet Cross MP has challenged the transport secretary to accompany her on a visit to the A96 amid calls for the Scottish Government to commit to fully dualling the road in its upcoming Budget.
The Gordon and Buchan MP has written to Fiona Hyslop ahead of the 2026-27 Budget, saying January’s announcement could be the difference between life or death on the A96.
In her letter, Ms Cross has also urged the Scottish Government to commit to a new bypass for Inverurie after Transport Scotland recommended for improvements to the town’s road network to be dropped earlier this year.
Uncertainty is growing over whether the SNP government will stick to its 2011 promise to fully dual the A96 after John Swinney previously said plans will be “influenced” by how much money is in the UK budget, announced last month.
Today, the Scottish Conservatives are holding a debate in Holyrood to urge SNP ministers to make progress on upgrading key roads such as the A96.
They will urge the SNP to adopt Scottish Conservative plans to pass an emergency law to fast-track the dualling of roads by the end of the next parliament, by expediting environmental impact assessments and working with private companies.
Scottish Conservative MP for Gordon and Buchan, Harriet Cross, said: “The upcoming Scottish Budget could be the difference between life or death on the A96.
“Fiona Hyslop has a month to visit the A96 to see for herself the tragic reality of the dangers this road possesses before her government’s Budget announcement.
“Next month’s Scottish Budget will mark 15 years since the SNP first promised to dual the A96 in full.
In Case You Missed it:
SNP slammed for not including A96 dualling at upcoming party conference in Aberdeen
Decision on future of fully dualling A96 pushed back to January amid fury over ‘scandalous’ delays
Scottish Budget to be unveiled in January as Finance Secretary warns of ‘difficult choices’
‘Horrifying casualty toll’ on A96 revealed over last four years
“Anything other than a commitment to full dualling will be a betrayal to our region, risking more deaths and injuries on one of the most dangerous roads in Scotland.”
In her letter, Ms Cross said: “Communities in Gordon and Buchan are increasingly sceptical about whether the Scottish Government intends to deliver the A96 dualling project at all.
“I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to meet me in Gordon and Buchan to see first-hand why dualling the A96 is urgently needed.”
