Petition calling for A96 Inverness to Nairn dualling work timeline set to be presented at forthcoming evidence session with the Cabinet Secretary for Transport

A petition urging the Scottish Government to publish a timeline for works on the dualling project of the A96 between Inverness and Nairn will be included in an upcoming Holyrood meeting with Cabinet Secretary Fiona Hyslop.

The appeal calling for a timetable for the scheme (which includes the Nairn Bypass) was launched by the Inverness Courier in December 2024 and was discussed at a meeting of the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee earlier today.

SIGN THE PETITION HERE

Earlier this month, we revealed that according to Scottish Government’s plans, no timeline is expected to be released for at least another year - a delay which could potentially coincide with the next Scottish Parliament elections in May 2026.

Inverness and Nairn MSP and committee member Fergus Ewing challenged the reasons behind this further delay are ‘almost incomprehensible’.

He said: “I thank the Inverness Courier for raising this petition in championing this issue, which is of massive concern to everybody in Nairn, but in the wider northeast as well.

“In one way, it's quite a modest ask. They're not demanding the whole project be completed by a certain time. They're asking simply for a timeline to be published by the Government.

“Thus far £90 million has been spent on work preparatory work in respect of the dualling of the A96, but not one centimetre of tarmac has been laid. Many people including myself, find that almost incomprehensible.”

Made orders for the scheme were published in March 2024 - however, Mr Ewing said that these were expected in 2026, according to the original pledge - which dates back to 2011.

Mr Ewing - whilst acknowledging Ms Hyslop’s personal enthusiasm in taking this scheme on - explained: “No explanation has ever really been given why there was this delay of eight years, which is the longest delay ever, I think, in respect of reaching this important stage of the proceedings.

“The Cabinet Secretary says that the reason for the delay is that it's fundamental that the authorities allow sufficient time to properly consider the range of procurement options, procurement routes available. How much more time do they need? They've had four years in this session.

“Nairn basically a one-road town and in the summer with the tourism and increased visitors, it can take up to an hour to get from one end of Nairn to another - about a mile and a half. I don't know if there's any other town in Scotland that has such a serious congestion problem, and Nairn feels it really is the forgotten town.”

Finally he said that yet another reason given for the delay of the project is that Transport Scotland have yet to decide how to fund it - however that a timeline has been given for the A9, which is also awaiting for confirmation on this aspect.

“In that sense the A9 is in exactly the same position as the A96. So ergo, that argument is is fallacious, is plainly fallacious,” he said.

“Then the worry is that after the 2026 election, like the rest of the A96, the Inverness and Nairn section commitment be dropped as well.

“I cannot allow that to happen. I could not remain in my current position, unless there is a timeline. It is not compatible with me standing up for my constituents. I'm not prepared to be part of that betrayal.”

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