THREE contractors have been shortlisted for construction of the fifth section of the A9 Dualling Programme from Pitlochry to Killiecrankie.
Balfour Beatty, Kier Transportation, and Wills Bros Civil Engineering will participate in the next stage of the competition for the contract to upgrade approximately four miles of the A9 to dual carriageway.
The £205 million (estimated at Q2 2025 prices) Pitlochry to Killiecrankie project involves building or upgrading nine bridges, including a new crossing of the River Tummel alongside the existing Tummel Bridge; a new bridge alongside the existing Clunie Bridge over Loch Faskally; and a new rail bridge over the Highland Mainline Railway.
The section also includes provision for safe walking and wheeling crossing points and improved access for non-motorised user travel routes, including the Rob Roy Way.
Over the coming months, participants will take part in a period of dialogue, at the end of which they will be invited to submit final tenders. Contract award is expected to be made in autumn 2026 following evaluation of the final tenders and dualling is expected to be operational by the end of 2030.
The Pitlochry to Killiecrankie project will be the third contract in the A9 Dualling Programme to be delivered using Transport Scotland’s amended NEC4 Engineering and Construction contract. The contract will also feature a carbon reduction fund, which is a capped fund that can be drawn on by the successful contractor to provide additional financial support to achieve reductions in carbon emissions that may otherwise be uneconomic.
Cabinet secretary for transport Fiona Hyslop said, “The government is continuing to meet the planned milestones in our Delivery Plan for completion of the A9 Dualling Programme. This next phase in the procurement process will see an intensive period of ongoing discussions as each of the contractors work to refine their outline design proposals. This is part of our approach to drive value for money for the Scottish taxpayer.
“We expect to award this contract in autumn next year and when construction is complete for this section it is anticipated that almost 50% of the A9 between Perth and Inverness will be dualled, demonstrating this government’s commitment to complete this vital infrastructure improvement.”
