Question reference: S6W-08570
- Asked by: Emma Roddick, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 18 May 2022
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Current status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 1 June 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any ongoing works that are currently in process to progress the dualling of the A96 (a) in general and (b) in relation to the section that will create the Nairn bypass.
Answer
The Scottish Government remains committed to the north and east of Scotland, including improving the A96 corridor and will take forward an enhancements programme that improves connectivity between surrounding towns, tackles congestion and addresses safety and environmental issues.
The current plan is to fully dual the A96 route between Inverness and Aberdeen, however the Scottish Government has agreed to conduct a transparent, evidence-based review of the programme which is already underway and will report by the end of 2022. Effective stakeholder and public engagement is an essential part of the review and an initial public consultation survey was launched on 12 May 2022.
The A96 Dualling Inverness to Nairn (including Nairn Bypass) scheme, which runs from Inverness to Hardmuir, is separate from the wider A96 corridor review process which is currently being undertaken and we continue to progress the preparation stages of the scheme with a view to completing the statutory process.
Delivery of the scheme can only commence if approved under the relevant statutory procedures and thereafter a timetable for progress can be set in line with available budgets.