By Paul Reoch

AN MSP has called into question the Scottish Executive’s priority for dualling the A9, despite the busy road being in line for a £28 million overhaul.

The road, which has been dubbed “the most dangerous in Scotland,” had another fatality last week at Drumochter and yesterday Murdo Fraser told The Courier upgrading the A9 is not on the “top 10” of Transport Minister Tavish Scott.

Transport Scotland will release details of the £28 million upgrading at public exhibitions at Aviemore on Wednesday and Thursday.

But Mr Fraser, who represents Mid-Scotland and Fife, asked the Executive to detail its 10 top priority road initiatives and is infuriated the A9 was not mentioned.

He said, “It is bad news that the Scottish Executive do not view the A9 as a priority road for investment and upgrading.

“For the Scottish Executive not to mention the need for the A9 to be upgraded to dual carriageway status between Perth and Inverness underlines their lack of commitment to the A9, their lack of commitment to the road safety of the A9’s road users and their lack of commitment to giving the Perthshire area an economic boost.”

The A9 has an unenviable reputation for its death toll, and Mr Fraser wants to keep the Executive focused on investing in improvements such as the grade-separated junction to be built at Ballinluig.

The £15 million scheme will start next summer.

“The road users of the A9 understand that the A9 must be upgraded to dual carriageway status between Perth and Inverness,” he added.

“I judge the A9 as the priority road for being upgraded in Scotland.

“It is Scotland’s deadliest road with the unfortunate statistic of having the highest death rate of all of Scotland’s roads.

“This cold fact must be considered by the Scottish Executive when deciding which roads require upgrading.

“It is clear to me that the A9 is the one road that needs urgent action and upgrading to dual carriageway status between Perth and Inverness.

“At least the Scottish Executive has mentioned the upgrading of the junction at Ballinluig.

“However, only now are tenders being invited for the upgrade to this junction.

“This upgrade is taking too long and the Scottish Executive must take real action to get the necessary improvements.”

Councillor Alistair Barr, who represents Strathtay and Dunkeld, broadly welcomed the scheme but is keen to see more detail.

“Obviously I am happy that Transport Scotland is taking the issue of A9 road safety seriously.

“But it would be nice to have more of a concrete idea of their overall plans for Highland Perthshire, where a large number of the A9’s accidents take place.

“I do worry slightly about a great deal of tinkering with the road because it may be the case that constant changes between dual and single-carriageway will mix drivers up even more.”

The work, to start next year, will include improving a 1.6 mile extension to the dual carriageway at Crubenmore, at a cost of £8.5 million, and help with overtaking along a 1.8 mile stretch from Kincraig to Dalraddy, costing £9.5 million.