Programme overview

The A9 is often described as “the backbone of Scotland”. At 273 miles (439km) it is the longest trunk road in Scotland. It must be safe, reliable and resilient, and that is why the Scottish Government is committed to dualling the A9 between Perth and Inverness.

The A9 Dualling programme will upgrade 83 miles (133 kilometres) of road from single to dual carriageway. This £3.97 billion (at April 2025 prices)  Programme is one of the largest road infrastructure programmes in Scotland’s history.

Dualling the A9 between Perth and Inverness will strengthen the connection between the Highlands and Scotland’s Central Belt for communities and business, bringing vital benefits for all road users, including bus services, through safer roads, improved journey time reliability and reduced driver frustration. It will also provide enhanced active travel routes for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.

In January 2026 the Government confirmed that the remaining elements of the programme will be delivered using capital‑funded design and build or similar contracts. The 2026 Delivery Plan was also announced in January 2026 that provides detail on how we will achieve dualling by 2035.

The objectives of A9 Dualling are:

• Improve the operational performance of the A9 by reducing journey times and improving journey time reliability.
• Improve safety for motorised and non-motorised users by reducing accident severity and reducing driver stress.
• Facilitate active travel within the corridor.
• Improve integration with public transport facilities.

The Programme involves dualling 10 sections. Road users are already benefiting from the Kincraig to Dalraddy and Luncarty to Pass of Birnam projects, which became operational in September 2017 and August 2021 respectively.

In January 2026 the Government confirmed that the remaining elements of the programme will be delivered using capital‑funded design and build contracts. An updated 2026 Delivery Plan was also announced in January 2026 and will involve establishment of a framework agreement, under which five contracts will be procured for delivery of the six projects that have not yet reached procurement. 

Key milestones set out in the 2026 Delivery Plan include:

• Tomatin to Moy – under construction, dualling expected to be operational by the end of Spring 2028
• Tay Crossing to Ballinluig – under construction, dualling expected to be operational by end of 2028
• Pitlochry to Killiecrankie – procurement underway, contract award expected Autumn 2026, dualling expected to be operational by end of 2030
• Dalraddy to Slochd – procurement expected to commence Winter 2026/2027, contract award expected Autumn 2027, dualling expected to be operational by end of 2032
• Glen Garry to Crubenmore – Glen Garry to Dalwhinnie and Dalwhinnie to Crubenmore projects to be procured as a single contract, procurement expected to commence Autumn 2027, contract award expected Summer 2028, dualling expected to be operational by end of 2034
• Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing – subject to completion of statutory processes, procurement expected to commence Summer 2028, contract award expected Spring 2029, dualling expected to be operational by end of 2033
• Killiecrankie to Glen Garry – procurement expected to commence Spring 2029, contract award expected Winter 2029/30, dualling expected to be operational by end of 2034
• Crubenmore to Kincraig – procurement expected to commence Winter 2029/30, contract award expected Autumn 2030, dualling expected to be operational by end of 2035

This approach will create a rolling programme of construction leading to the progressive opening of dualled sections. By the end of 2030 50% of the A9 will be dualled, rising to 67% by 2032, 91% by 2034, and 100% by 2035.

The estimated total scheme cost of A9 Dualling is £3.97 billion (at April 2025 prices)

A9 Dualling will provide a variety of benefits to users, as well as the communities and businesses served by and around the A9. This includes:

• Improved journey time reliability - dualling will reduce the journey time on the entire route from Perth to Inverness by 20%, saving approximately 26 minutes
• Improved resilience on the route by limiting the need for lengthy diversions
• Improved safety – three less fatality casualties and eight less serious injury casualties forecast annually
• Reductions in driver stress and journey times for emergency vehicles
• Better non-motorised user routes, provision of dedicated grade-separated crossings of the A9 and enhanced lay-bys for accessibility to the surrounding countryside
• Improved public transport integration, providing assistance for bus operators by reducing journey times, improving operation performance and safer access to local communities and railway stations, together with replacement bus stops on the route and provision of new bus turning facilities