A9/A96 Inshes to Smithton
In 2014, Transport Scotland held public exhibitions to present the results of the A9/A96 Connections Study with Options C and D identified as the best performing options. Transport Scotland appointed Jacobs to take forward the route options assessment process on the A9/A96 road connection between Inshes and Smithton. This process is now complete and Transport Scotland published draft Orders for the scheme on 13 September 2019.
Draft Orders and Environmental Impact Assessment Report
Transport Scotland published draft Orders and an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) for the proposed scheme on 13 September 2019 for formal comment. The draft Orders include The A9 and A96 Trunk Roads (Inshes to Smithton) Side Roads Order 201[ ], and The A9 and A96 Trunk Roads (Inshes to Smithton) Compulsory Purchase Order 201[ ].
The Statutory Consultation Period closed on 25 October 2019. Transport Scotland have considered all the representations, including objections, received during the Statutory Consultation Period. The Scottish Ministers have considered the remaining objections and published their Decision Letter which confirms that a Public Local Inquiry was not necessary and that Orders should be made as published.
Following publication of the draft Orders and EIAR, Transport Scotland held Public Exhibitions in Raigmore and Smithton on 25 and 26 September 2019.
The information presented at these exhibitions is available below:
Public drop-in sessions
May 2018
We held public drop-in sessions on 16 and 17 May 2018 to let local residents and road users view and comment on design changes to the preferred option for the A9/A96 Inshes to Smithton scheme.
Representatives from Transport Scotland and our design consultants were available to discuss the design and assessment work and answer any questions.
We've issued responses to all feedback received during the drop-in sessions.
Public exhibitions
October / November 2017
As part of the Scottish Government’s commitment within the £315 million Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal, public exhibitions were held on 31 October and 1 November 2017 to give local communities and road users the opportunity to see and comment on the preferred option for the A9 / A96 Inshes to Smithton scheme.
Representatives from Transport Scotland and its design consultants were on hand to discuss the design and assessment work and answer any questions.
August 2016
Transport Scotland held public exhibitions on 23 and 24 August 2016 to update locals and road users on the route options under consideration for the scheme. The purpose of the public exhibitions was to explain how we took forward the options identified following the recent A9/A96 Connections Study and to give the public the opportunity to comment on the developing route options for the scheme.