Scottish Government committed to dualling A96 despite review backing targeted improvements

The Scottish Government remains committed to fully dualling the A96 between Inverness and Aberdeen, the transport secretary has said, but she left the door open to taking a “different approach”.

Fiona Hyslop made a statement to parliament on Thursday afternoon in response to the publication of Transport Scotland’s review of the programme.

That appraisal concluded that smaller interventions would deliver better outcomes than full dualling of the road.

It said a “refined package” of improvements would be better for the environment, sustainability, equality and inclusivity.

This package could include bypasses for Elgin and Keith, delivering targeted road safety improvements, and improved infrastructure for electric vehicles.

Meanwhile full dualling of the route, according to the review, would have a negative impact on the government’s net zero emissions target and the environment for local communities.

Despite the review, Hyslop told the parliament the government would still pursue full dualling – though she confirmed it would not hit its target to do so by 2030.

She added: “The Scottish Government currently favours fully dualling the A96 between Inverness and Aberdeen.

“The A96 corridor review evidence suggests that there may be a different approach to provide alternative solutions at a more cost effective, affordable budget.”

The dualling of the road has long been the subject of heated debate, with advocates saying it would make one of Scotland’s most dangerous roads safer while opponents warn it goes against climate ambitions.

The SNP pledged to dual the entire route in 2011 with a delivery date of 2030, but a series of disagreements over the preferred route meant the project was delayed.

After the 2021 election, when the SNP and Greens went into government together, progress on the programme was paused to allow a review of the environmental impact of the plans to go ahead.

This review has now concluded: “Overall, the refined package performs better than full dualling in terms of the appraisal criteria, particularly with respect to the impact on the environment, sustainability, equality and inclusivity.”

A public consultation has now been opened to hear views on the outcomes of the review, and Hyslop said a final decision will be taken about the route afterwards.

Former Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross, whose Moray constituency includes the road, said it was “not the truth” that the government remained committed to dualling.

Making an unusual intervention in the transport secretary’s speech, he said: “Anyone who has read this document knows that this SNP government are no longer committed to fully dualling the A96.

“Whatever the cabinet secretary is saying today, it is not the truth because this document says they are backsliding on their commitment and they are not going to fully dual that road.”

Tory transport spokesperson Sue Webber added: “Instead of fulfilling their promise to communities on the A96, the cabinet secretary is betraying them.

“The cabinet secretary admits in her statement that the SNP government will break its promise, and that the A96 will not be dualled by 2030.

“Worse still, the door is being left open to rowing back on the promise entirely. That would be unacceptable to communities who rely on this road.”

However the review and statement was welcomed by Green MSP Mark Ruskell, whose party oppose the dualling of the route due to climate concerns.

Responding to the statement, he called for the government to “accelerate investment” into the refined package of measures.

Labour’s Michael Marra said the ongoing delay to improvements was “just another symptom of an incompetent government”. He called for an apology for the “interminable delays”.