Rhoda Grant says delay in dualling the A9 road between Inverness and Perth is 'unacceptable'
A NORTH MSP has claimed the delay in dualling the A9 road between Inverness and Perth is "unacceptable".
Rhoda Grant, a Labour Highlands and Islands MSP, hit out when the subject was raised at First Minister's Questions in the Scottish Parliament.
She pressed for a date for the completion of the project after Scottish Transport Minister, Jenny Gilruth, said it would not be finished by 2025 as planned.
Mrs Grant said the First Minister has "betrayed" the north of Scotland with broken promises to dual the A9 although Nicola Sturgeon insisted her government is committed to the scheme.
Afterwards Mrs Grant said: "It is clear to me that this has never been a priority for the Scottish Government. The scale of the project is nearly the exact same as it was in 2011 when the promise was made and if they were running on time, then inflation never would have impacted it."
She added: "Highland residents are benefiting from only 10 miles of completed dual carriageway. That is unacceptable and it beggars belief that they will have to wait until autumn for an updated timetable for this dualling."
