Looking Back - what led to the 2025 target becoming unachievable?
The Committee has concluded that while there was no single issue or incident which led to the 2025 target becoming unachievable, the Scottish Government’s failure to reach agreement on programme funding significantly contributed to progress stalling as the programme was reaching the procurement and construction stages. In addition to the funding issue, an unwillingness from Transport Scotland to address industry concerns about the balance of risk in its design and build contracts also led to programme drift. The Committee believes this could have been avoided and challenges addressed more efficiently had there been an individual whose main or only focus was to progress the A9 dualling programme.
A lack of open, external discussion of the challenges being faced in the delivery of the A9 dualling programme has negatively impacted public confidence in Transport Scotland and its ability to deliver major infrastructure projects within the timescales it says it will.
To assist the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland in regaining public trust, the Committee recommend that a duty of candour be introduced to help ensure that challenges faced on this, and future major projects, can be subject to improved public and parliamentary scrutiny. This should include the Scottish Government being proactive in publishing relevant advice and updates throughout the development of major projects. It is the Committee's view that had Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee Inquiry into the A9 Dualling Programme, 2nd Report, 2024 (Session 6) 12 such a duty been in place previously then there would have been greater urgency
Looking Forward - achieving dualling of the A9 by 2035