The long-running saga of upgrading the A9 in Scotland has uncovered the SNP’s “appalling betrayal” of rural communities, in keeping with new analysis.
The most recent figures put the much-delayed challenge ”nicely over a century late”.
Calculations from the Scottish Conservatives present that, on the present charge of progress, the A9 won’t be absolutely dualed for one more 111 years.
The SNP initially pledged to have the work completed by the tip of 2025 – simply two years away.
The brand new evaluation, which relies on Transport Scotland’s personal figures, reveals the “pitiful, snail-paced progress” of the SNP challenge, in keeping with the Scottish Tories.
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The Scottish Nationalists initially pledged again in 2011, when the challenge was predicted to value £3billion.
That is £4.67billion at present when adjusted for present costs, in keeping with the Financial institution of England.
The SNP vowed to completely twin the A9 from Inverness to Perth, as a consequence of its strategic significance, connecting the Highland capital with central Scotland, and due to the variety of accidents on the lethal highway.
Eleven miles (18km) have been dualled in 10 years, leaving about 77 miles (124km) of highway to nonetheless be upgraded.
In February this yr, then-transport minister Jenny Gilruth mentioned the 2025 goal was ”unachievable”.
As an alternative of taking possession of the delay, Ms Gilruth blamed it on the Covid pandemic, Brexit and the conflict in Ukraine.
Shadow transport minister Graham Simpson mentioned the SNP-Greens proceed to deal with communities reliant on the A9 with contempt.
He confirmed that dualing the A9 could be a pledge within the subsequent Scottish Conservative election manifesto, including that the social gathering ”will at all times get up for rural and distant Scotland”.
Mr Simpson mentioned: mentioned: “These figures reveal the appalling betrayal by the SNP of those that depend on the A9.
“Day by day that these important upgrades are delayed, extra lives are put in danger on this lethal highway.
”It’s past embarrassing – it’s shameful. SNP ministers have been already making pitiful, snail-paced progress on this, however the addition of the anti-car Greens to authorities has made issues worse.
“Regardless of the mounting loss of life toll and the comprehensible fury of campaigners, they proceed to tug their heels by delaying a promised assertion to parliament.
“The agricultural communities who rely on the A9 wish to see the speaking cease and work to lastly begin on the massive stretches that stay single carriageways.
“In contrast to the Nationalists, the Scottish Conservatives will at all times get up for rural and distant Scotland, which is why dualling the A9 would be the first pledge in our Common Election manifesto.”