Scotland’s transport minister has admitted dualling the A9 north of Perth could take decades.
Keith Brown was accused of “kicking the issue into the long grass” after making the confession on Tuesday.
The Clackmannanshire and Dunblane MSP was speaking as a new section of the M74 was opened in Glasgow eight months ahead of schedule and under budget.
Mr Brown said it could take decades for the government to dual the A9, despite the party claiming it was “fully committed” to the project in its election manifesto.
“What we’re doing is carrying out improvements as money becomes available,” he said.
Mr Brown said the constraints on the Scottish Government highlighted the case for an independent Scotland.
“What we have to do is first of all make sure that we have the plans being put in place to improve the A9 … but also to keep campaigning for the improved borrowing powers and capital consent from Westminster that will give us the ability to carry out that work.
“Obviously that goes on all the time, and the final timetable is not entirely within our hands.”
Asked if it could take decades, Mr Brown replied, “Potentially, but … obviously we have an independence referendum and under independence the Scottish Government would be able to raise its own finances, and that could obviously help that situation.”
Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser accused the transport minister of “evasiveness”.’Shameful'”It’s clear the SNP Government, despite continually promising action, is trying to kick this issue into the long grass,” said the Scottish Tory deputy leader. “Keith Brown’s evasiveness will dismay A9 campaigners who had hoped the SNP Government would keep this promise after the election.
“To trot out the old mantra that a separate Scotland would be able to dual the A9 more quickly is nothing short of shameful.”
Mr Fraser admitted dualling the A9 was a “massive” financial undertaking, but he added, “We should not forget that there is a substantial cost for inaction as well not just the appalling human cost, but also the economic cost from disruption.”
Later in the day the Scottish Government maintained it was “absolutely committed” to dualling the A9.
“Since 2007, we have already invested more than £50m on safety and structural improvements between Perth and Inverness alone,” said a spokeswoman. “The economic climate is challenging, but we are committed to investing in Scotland’s infrastructure on a robustly planned and sustained basis and we are committed to dualling the A9 on this basis as funds become available.
“This is why we are pursuing greater capital borrowing powers capital borrowing would certainly allow the Scottish Government to fund more infrastructure projects, more quickly.”
The A9 claimed 13 lives last year, provoking more than 10,000 people to sign an online petition to have the road fully dualled.