Current status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 17 January 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has allocated funding to complete the dualling of the A96 between Inverness and Nairn, including the Nairn Bypass.
The Scottish Government is committed to improving the A96 and it is already taking forward the dualling process from Inverness to Nairn, including Nairn Bypass.
The publication of Made Orders for the A96 Dualling Inverness to Nairn (including Nairn Bypass) scheme in 2024 is a strong sign of the Scottish Government’s commitment to build this key project. Further to this, the Scottish Government has confirmed through its Programme for Government, that Transport Scotland will take forward the final stage of the process for acquisition of land required to construct the project, and progress work to determine the most suitable procurement option.
Funding is included in the 2024-25 budget and draft 2025-26 budget to take forward this work – thereafter a timetable for procurement and construction phases can then be set in line with annual budget setting process for future years.