Scottish Government announces £5m for safety improvements to A9 following summer of tragedy on road
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The Scottish Government has announced £5m funding for safety improvements to the A9 after a huge rise in fatalities on the road this year.
The government will also be working with the car hire sector and other partners to see how foreign drivers can be better educated to use Scotland’s roads.
There have been 13 deaths on the A9 Inverness-Perth road since the start of the summer including three US citizens who were killed near Newtonmore after their car collided with an HGV.
Pressure has been growing on Scottish Ministers to speed up their progress on dualling the A9 in the wake of the fatalities.
The Scottish Government pledged in 2007 to have dualled the road from Inverness to Perth by 2025 but so far only two stretches have been completed including between Kincraig and Dalraddy near Aviemore.
Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth revealed the £5m commitment in a parliamentary answer to fellow SNP MSP Fergus Ewing.
He has been pushing for the dualling of the road to be progressed ASAP.
Mr Ewing (SNP) said: "I welcome this package of measures and thank the Minister and her team including Transport Scotland and the police
"However, these are no substitute and must not detract from delivery of our long standing pledge to dual the A9 from Perth to Inverness."
Badenoch MSP Kate Forbes (SNP) said: “It’s been a terrible year on the A9, and my thoughts are with the families and friends who have lost loved ones through these tragic accidents.
“Any measures to improve road safety are hugely welcome, and I look forward to the Transport Minister setting out more detail in the near future.
“As I have said previously, none of these short-term measures are a substitute for dualling the road.
"However, it is incumbent that the Transport Minister takes all available steps – however small – to make the A9 as safe as possible in the interim.”
No details of where the improvements will be made have been revealed yet.
Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth stated in her written response: "This year’s safety performance of the A9 has been a concern for everyone and our thoughts remain with those affected by these tragic accidents.
"I can advise today that this Government is taking forward a package of safety measures, valued at £5m, to help address the trends identified recently.
"As well as the three safety schemes which are already scheduled for delivery, an additional £600,000 of works and campaigns will also be delivered by April, focussed on the A9 between Perth and Inverness.
"This will include enhanced road markings with acoustic properties, illuminated road studs plus signage and improvements to highlight single carriageways and the transitions at dualled sections.
"Variable message signs will also be deployed along this part of the route.
"For 2023-24 and 2024-25, the scope and extent of these works will be expanded between Perth and Inverness, delivering significant and important investment to improve roads safety.
"I will also be working with the car hire sector and key local and regional partners to examine how tourists and foreign drivers can be better educated on Scotland’s roads.
"This will aid our wider campaign work on 'Drive on the Left' and will also highlight the necessity for taking regular breaks, tackling driver fatigue.
"Having met with MSPs from across the chamber following the debate on A9 road safety last month, I will convene a meeting with members, Transport Scotland, Bear Scotland and Police Scotland in the New Year to talk to these vital improvements and address any questions members will have."
A Transport Scotland spokesman said there were no details available for what investment would take place in Badenoch and Strathspey.
He confirmed the funding was all new money: "There is an extra £622,000 this year and then £4.5 million over the next two years."
More details are expected to be given in the New Year.
The next A9 Safety Group meeting will be in February 2023.
A petition launched last week calling for a revised timetable commitment for dualling to the A9 and interim improvements has gained nearly 4000 signatures.
In early November, the government announced safety was to be improved at three accident blackspots on the A9 and Highland Perthshire.
Ms Gilruth confirmed £95,000 would be invested into enhanced signage and road marking including at Ralia south of Newtonmore where the three members of the US family were killed in the crash with an HGV in August.
Upgrades will also take place on the A9 Ballinluig southbound and at the A9/B8079 junction at House of Bruar.
Transport Scotland chiefs described these projects as 'short-term interventions' in advance of dualling works.
