It is known as the spine of Scotland as it meanders more than 100 miles through the heart of the country bringing goods and people to and from the Highlands to the central belt.

But in recent years, the A9 has become synonymous with a failed transport regime under the current government as it remains un-dualled despite a manifesto pledge in 2007.

A promise to fully dual the single carriageway between Perth and Inverness by 2025 was first made in the SNP’s 2007 manifesto, with plans to widen around 80 miles of road in 11 sections formally set out in 2011.

However, little more than 11 miles – in just two sections –were dualled in 12 years.

Six miles of the trunk road from Moy to Tomatin, south of Inverness, are currently being upgraded under a £185 million contract.

In 2023, the Scottish Government admitted the dualling would now not be completed until 2035 at the earliest.

However, that didn’t stop Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop taking hyperbole to new heights with the latest pronouncement on the A9.

She announced that a contract for the dualling of a fourth section of the road is due to be awarded imminently.

Transport Scotland announced on Friday that Wills Bros Civil Engineering was the preferred bidder in the £152.7m deal to dual the road between Tay Crossing and Ballinluig.

The government has planned to upgrade the road – one of Scotland’s most dangerous – for more than a decade, with the work initially due to be complete this year.

But it has since been pushed back to 2035.According to Transport Scotland, the section will be complete in 2028,........

© Herald Scotland