A9 dualling

[Mikehannah]

The North east is well served from the South.
It is communication links to Inverness via the A9 in the South and the A96 to the East that will be one of the first casualties of Independence
I will be very happy to be proved wrong but the Scottish Government have had ample time to put out at least one other “ Shovel ready” sections to tender, they haven’t!!

[A9Dan]

Pre-inquiry meeting for Crubenmore to Kincraig now scheduled for 29 October 2020, to be held online due to coronavirus. I expect that the objections from the RSPB will require inquiry sessions, there do seem to be some quite serious concerns which need addressing.

[A9Dan]

Inquiry session for Crubenmore to Kincraig now scheduled to begin on 1 March 2021, to be held virtually.


Status of all schemes as of November 2020:

Luncarty to Pass of Birnam: Under construction (started in February 2019, temporarily suspended in 2020 due to coronavirus).

Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing: Awaiting preferred route announcement following consultation on options developed since the co-creative process.

Tay Crossing to Ballinluig: Report issued to Scottish Ministers (July 2020).

Pitlochry to Killiecrankie: Decision issued confirming orders on 11 February 2020.

Killiecrankie to Glen Garry: Inquiry sessions held over 2 weeks starting 13 January 2020, report now being prepared for Scottish Ministers.

Glen Garry to Dalwhinnie: Decision issued confirming orders on 31 May 2019, the scheme now awaits Made Orders.

Dalwhinnie to Crubenmore: Report issued to Scottish Ministers (November 2019).

Crubenmore to Kincraig: Inquiry session scheduled to begin on 1 March 2021, to be held virtually.

Kincraig to Dalraddy: Completed (September 2017).

Dalraddy to Schlod: Inquiry sessions cancelled, report now being prepared for Scottish Ministeres. Modified draft CPO submitted on 9 October 2020.

Tomatin to Moy: Decision issued confirming orders on 11 February 2020.

[B9127]

2025 looks like a date for the next invitation to tender

[Mikehannah]

I very much doubt we will see another section constructed. This has become a seeing to be doing exercise as has the A96

[haggishunter]

Traffic now running on new carriageway for the full length of the Luncarty to Pass of Birnam section, starting on the N/B carriageway at the southern end before swapping over and including through the Bankfoot junction on what will be the S/B carriageway. The new S/B carriageway slips are in use at the Bankfoot junction and the mini roundabout for the site compound is now abandoned, so the temporary speed limit is now 40mph throughout.

Any ideas on how things are compared to the scheduled opening date given the hiatus caused by covid?

[Duncan macknight]

I’m going to make a guess at Early summer. Parts of the original road still need to be ripped up and rebuilt for modern standards. Can’t take too long but there is this thing called winter approaching...

[Euan]

The work was suspended during a period of very fine and undisruptive weather in the spring which would have been a bit of an inconvenience for the wish to have the road dualled sooner rather than later. I make it approximately three months that the work was suspended for, so the delay to the completion will probably be at least that. The “Spring 2021” completion date could in theory be met at any time up until 31 May which wouldn’t seem too bad had the project originally been on course to have finished by around February time.

[Nwallace]

I’m going to make a guess at Early summer. Parts of the original road still need to be ripped up and rebuilt for modern standards. Can’t take too long but there is this thing called winter approaching...

Um... this is at least iteration 5
Ancient tracks
Wade/Caufield
Telfords Comissioners/Perthsire County
70/80s upgrade
This one

:pedant:

[Nwallace]

The work was suspended during a period of very fine and undisruptive weather in the spring which would have been a bit of an inconvenience for the wish to have the road dualled sooner rather than later. I make it approximately three months that the work was suspended for, so the delay to the completion will probably be at least that. The “Spring 2021” completion date could in theory be met at any time up until 31 May which wouldn’t seem too bad had the project originally been on course to have finished by around February time.

On the plus side, so far this winter has been rather mild.
Cue a 2010 style winter following

[djw1981]

Lots of rain though

[A9Dan]

Decision issued today confirming that the orders for Dalwhinnie to Crubenmore should be made.


Current status of all schemes:

Luncarty to Pass of Birnam: Under construction (started in February 2019, temporarily suspended in 2020 due to coronavirus).

Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing: Awaiting preferred route announcement following consultation on options developed since the co-creative process.

Tay Crossing to Ballinluig: Report issued to Scottish Ministers (July 2020).

Pitlochry to Killiecrankie: Decision issued confirming orders on 11 February 2020.

Killiecrankie to Glen Garry: Inquiry sessions held over 2 weeks starting 13 January 2020, report now being prepared for Scottish Ministers.

Glen Garry to Dalwhinnie: Decision issued confirming orders on 31 May 2019.

Dalwhinnie to Crubenmore: Decision issued confirming orders on 3 December 2020.

Crubenmore to Kincraig: Inquiry session scheduled to begin on 1 March 2021, to be held virtually.

Kincraig to Dalraddy: Completed (September 2017).

Dalraddy to Schlod: Inquiry sessions cancelled, report now being prepared for Scottish Ministeres. Modified draft CPO submitted on 9 October 2020.

Tomatin to Moy: Decision issued confirming orders on 11 February 2020.

[IAN]

Decision issued today confirming that the orders for Dalwhinnie to Crubenmore should be made.

There it is very likely that the contract for construction will combine this section and Glen Garry to Dalwhinnie as a single scheme?

[Altnabreac]

Decision issued today confirming that the orders for Dalwhinnie to Crubenmore should be made.


Current status of all schemes:

Luncarty to Pass of Birnam: Under construction (started in February 2019, temporarily suspended in 2020 due to coronavirus).

Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing: Awaiting preferred route announcement following consultation on options developed since the co-creative process.

Tay Crossing to Ballinluig: Report issued to Scottish Ministers (July 2020).

Pitlochry to Killiecrankie: Decision issued confirming orders on 11 February 2020.

Killiecrankie to Glen Garry: Inquiry sessions held over 2 weeks starting 13 January 2020, report now being prepared for Scottish Ministers.

Glen Garry to Dalwhinnie: Decision issued confirming orders on 31 May 2019.

Dalwhinnie to Crubenmore: Decision issued confirming orders on 3 December 2020.

Crubenmore to Kincraig: Inquiry session scheduled to begin on 1 March 2021, to be held virtually.

Kincraig to Dalraddy: Completed (September 2017).

Dalraddy to Schlod: Inquiry sessions cancelled, report now being prepared for Scottish Ministeres. Modified draft CPO submitted on 9 October 2020.

Tomatin to Moy: Decision issued confirming orders on 11 February 2020.

Good news.

I note also that the QC for the RSPB on Crubenmore to Kincraig said talks were progressing well and asked for statements to be delayed to allow for agreement to be reached. TS lawyers didn't agree to the delay but it's a good sign that the two sides are getting close.

RZSS (Highland Wildlife Park) and Balavil Estate have already withdrawn their objections so Crubenmore to Kincraig is down to 6 statutory objections all of whom are resting on their written statements and a bunch of non statutory objections mainly based on the RSPB case.

So if RSPB agreement is reached then the March hearing can be cancelled and it's a relatively easy write up for the reporter with only a few minor statutory objectors remaining.

Could see virtually everything except Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing at the Made Orders stage by this time next year.

[A9NWIL]

Decision issued today confirming that the orders for Dalwhinnie to Crubenmore should be made.

There it is very likely that the contract for construction will combine this section and Glen Garry to Dalwhinnie as a single scheme?

Whats the likelihood that as the Tay Crossing to Ballinluig is with the ministers and the Killiecrankie to Glen Garry is being sent to the ministers that they plan a Tay Crossing to Glen Garry combined scheme?

Also at the other end they could combine Dalraddy to Schlod and Tomatin to Moy when the ministers have finished with Dalraddy to Schlod.

[justanotheruser]

Is it realistic that so much of it would be under construction at once if so many of the sections are made orders by next yet?

[A9NWIL]

Decision issued today confirming that the orders for Dalwhinnie to Crubenmore should be made.


Current status of all schemes:

Luncarty to Pass of Birnam: Under construction (started in February 2019, temporarily suspended in 2020 due to coronavirus).

Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing: Awaiting preferred route announcement following consultation on options developed since the co-creative process.

Tay Crossing to Ballinluig: Report issued to Scottish Ministers (July 2020).

Pitlochry to Killiecrankie: Decision issued confirming orders on 11 February 2020.

Killiecrankie to Glen Garry: Inquiry sessions held over 2 weeks starting 13 January 2020, report now being prepared for Scottish Ministers.

Glen Garry to Dalwhinnie: Decision issued confirming orders on 31 May 2019.

Dalwhinnie to Crubenmore: Decision issued confirming orders on 3 December 2020.

Crubenmore to Kincraig: Inquiry session scheduled to begin on 1 March 2021, to be held virtually.

Kincraig to Dalraddy: Completed (September 2017).

Dalraddy to Schlod: Inquiry sessions cancelled, report now being prepared for Scottish Ministeres. Modified draft CPO submitted on 9 October 2020.

Tomatin to Moy: Decision issued confirming orders on 11 February 2020.

Good news.

I note also that the QC for the RSPB on Crubenmore to Kincraig said talks were progressing well and asked for statements to be delayed to allow for agreement to be reached. TS lawyers didn't agree to the delay but it's a good sign that the two sides are getting close.

RZSS (Highland Wildlife Park) and Balavil Estate have already withdrawn their objections so Crubenmore to Kincraig is down to 6 statutory objections all of whom are resting on their written statements and a bunch of non statutory objections mainly based on the RSPB case.

So if RSPB agreement is reached then the March hearing can be cancelled and it's a relatively easy write up for the reporter with only a few minor statutory objectors remaining.

Could see virtually everything except Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing at the Made Orders stage by this time next year.

Or out to tender if they want it all started I suppose? It could be one big set of roadworks soon enough except the done bits and the Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing.

[Altnabreac]

Decision issued today confirming that the orders for Dalwhinnie to Crubenmore should be made.

There it is very likely that the contract for construction will combine this section and Glen Garry to Dalwhinnie as a single scheme?

Whats the likelihood that as the Tay Crossing to Ballinluig is with the ministers and the Killiecrankie to Glen Garry is being sent to the ministers that they plan a Tay Crossing to Glen Garry combined scheme?

Also at the other end they could combine Dalraddy to Schlod and Tomatin to Moy when the ministers have finished with Dalraddy to Schlod.

I think they’ll pair up as follows into 3 tenders:

Glen Garry to Dalwhinnie
Dalwhinnie to Crubenmore

Dalraddy to Slochd
Tomatin to Moy

Pitlochry to Killiecrankie
Killiecrankie to Glen Garry

Those will proceed in the medium term to be complete by 2025 with the delayed schemes being:
Crubenmore to Kincraig

And a paired up:
Tay Crossing to Ballinluig
Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing

Just a guess though.

[clc]

I was reading that the Scottish Government is looking at funding the A9 dualling using something similar to the Welsh Government’s Mutual Investment Model (MIM). The contractor would maintain the project road for 30 years so it would make sense to bundle sections together.

[B9127]

RE ''And a paired up Tay Crossing to Ballinluig - Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing'' I would prefer Tay Crossing to Ballinluig to be a contract on its own and leave Tay Crossing to Pass of Birnam let later as it would appear to be a difficult one to satisfy the Dunkeld objectors