The announcement follows news in January that the remaining sections of the A9 Dualling yet to commence procurement would be delivered using capital funding.

The delivery Framework Agreement has been developed following a consultation exercise with the construction industry and will incorporate an early contractor involvement approach, which is expected to attract more competition for this vital pipeline of work and promote a more collaborative approach. Early contractor involvement aims to drive value for money by appointing the contractor at the pre-construction stage, bringing expertise to optimise design, manage risks and improve constructability.

Publication of the Contract Notice kicks off the procurement process, which is expected to conclude before the end of the year.

Following the successful conclusion of the Framework Agreement, the first contract to be procured using the new Framework Agreement will be the Dalraddy and Slochd section, which includes the replacement of three at-grade junctions (Aviemore South, Granish (A95) and Blackmount (Carrbridge)) with three new grade-separated junctions.

Cabinet secretary for economy, tourism and transport, Stephen Flynn MSP, said: “Commencing the procurement of this Framework Agreement today gives a clear signal to the industry and to Scotland, that we are serious about delivering the A9 Dualling.

“We have listened to the construction industry and have refreshed our delivery model to support this Government’s commitment to delivering dualling of the A9 by the end of 2035. This announcement today is evidence of our continued commitment to full dualling of the A9.

“I intend to build on the momentum that my predecessor Fiona Hyslop generated during her time as the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and I am confident that this framework provides what the construction industry needs to secure the delivery of this vital infrastructure programme. The A9 must be safe, reliable and resilient, and that is what this Government will deliver.

“The A9 Dualling Programme is about far more than infrastructure: it is about strengthening connections between the Highlands and the Central Belt, supporting economic growth, and local communities by creating opportunities for people and businesses across Scotland.”

The cabinet secretary added: “The Scottish Government remains committed to fully dual the A96. We are progressing the Inverness to Nairn section, including the Nairn Bypass, with land secured and funding in place to begin advanced works in 2026/27.

“The Capital Spending Review sets out plans to commence construction of the Nairn Bypass in 2029/30, subject to final approvals and confirmation of funding beyond the spending review, and we will continue to progress dualling of the A96 eastwards as funding allows.”

Senior civil engineer for Transport Scotland, Konstantina Bimpou, is testament to the opportunities that the A9 has to offer. Having worked on the A9 Dualling programme as part of her graduate training programme, she was able to use her experience gained working on the A9 Dualling Programme to contribute to achieving a professional qualification as a chartered engineer.

Speaking on her experience, she said: “Working on the A9 Dualling Programme has been a hugely rewarding experience for me. I started work on A9 Dualling as a graduate as part of Transport Scotland’s graduate training scheme and that experience helped me gain the necessary skills to become a chartered engineer. I am excited to be part of the team delivering the A9 Dualling and I look forward to continuing to develop my experience as a Project Manager on one of the sections that will be delivered through this framework.

“This programme is creating real opportunities for people, helping to build skills and careers while delivering essential infrastructure. With preparations already underway, it’s an exciting time to be working on the Programme as we progress works along the route between Perth and Inverness and play a part in delivering long-term benefits for communities.”