Completion dates and costs for the dualling of the A9: EIR release

Information requested

Would I be able to request current and projected costs for the dualling of the A9?

Would I also be able to request estimated completion dates for the various sections?

Response

As the information you have requested is ‘environmental information’ for the purposes of the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIRs), we are required to deal with your request under those Regulations.

We are applying the exemption at section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA), so that we do not also have to deal with your request under FOISA.

This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption, because there is no public interest in dealing with the same request under two different regimes. This is essentially a technical point and has no material effect on the outcome of your request.

I have provided a response to each of your questions as follows;

Would I be able to request current and projected costs for the dualling of the A9?

Total spend on the A9 Dualling programme from 2012 to the date of your request, 6 August 2024 is approximately £476,900,518.65, inclusive of VAT where applicable. This figure includes spend for taking the various component projects through design and statutory process stages, acquisition of land, demolition and preparatory works, procurement of contractors to construct the works, as well as costs of construction works undertaken to date.

Please note that data prior to 2012 is not included. Transport Scotland’s financial records for the A9 Dualling Programme prior to 2012 cannot be accurately calculated in the format requested due to a change in systems.

In regards to projected costs, under regulation 6(1)(b) of the EIRs, we do not have to give you information which is already publicly available and easily accessible to you in another form or format. This information has been published on our A9 Dualling website and can be accessed at the following link; https://www.a9dualling.scot/a9-dualling/programme-overview/

Would I also be able to request estimated completion dates for the various sections?

In regards to the estimated completion dates of the various sections, under regulation 6(1)(b) of the EIRs, we do not have to give you information which is already publicly available and easily accessible to you in another form or format. This information has been published on our A9 Dualling website and can be accessed at the following link; Delivery Plan (a9dualling.scot)

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.