Meeting minutes - 28 October 2026 - A9 Safety Group

Attendees

  • Stuart Wilson - Transport Scotland - Roads Operations
  • Morag MacKay - Transport Scotland - Roads Operations
  • Vince Tait - Transport Scotland - Roads Operations
  • Graeme Paget - Transport Scotland - Roads Operations
  • Jonny Moran - Transport Scotland - Infrastructure Projects
  • David McKenzie - Transport Scotland - Roads Operations
  • Michelle Van der stighelen - Transport Scotland - Roads Operations
  • Nicola Clark - Transport Scotland - Roads Operations (Minutes)
  • Insp Donnie MacKinnon - Police Scotland - North Command
  • PC Neil Drummond - Police Scotland
  • Eric Dunion - Safety Cameras Scotland 
  • Martin Reid - Road Haulage Association
  • Matthew Welch - Perth & Kinross Council
  • Craig Daly - Perth & Kinross Council
  • Kevin McKechnie - BEAR Scotland
  • Stuart Geddes - BEAR Scotland
  • Lisa Mackellaich - The Highland Council (TEAMS)
  • Rhianon Merritt - Prosper Scotland
  • Peter McClelland - AMEY
  • Michael McDonnell - Road Safety Scotland

Apologies

  • Alexandra Herdman - Logistics UK

Welcome and Introductions

Stuart Wilson welcomed those in attendance and advised that meetings would continue in a “hybrid” arrangement.

Update on safety performance

Police Scotland - Insp Donnie MacKinnon

Inspector MacKinnon updated the group regarding road death stats and police activity.

There have been four fatal road traffic collision resulting in four fatalities since the last meeting in April (2 in Perth and Kinross area and 2 on the Highlands). The average age of the deceased persons is 63.

The first occurred on 31 July in the Perth and Kinross area and involved two vehicles. The second occurred on 17 August near to Dalguise and has since been confirmed as a medical incident. The third occurred on 9 October north of Tore and involved a vehicle which was overtaking and collided with an opposing HGV. The fourth occurred on 10 October and involved a 86-year-old driver who lost control and struck an opposing van. None of these collisions involved foreign drivers.

Road Policing officers have done a lot of work to engage with foreign drivers deploying at known tourist destinations and distributing advice and Road Safety Scotland assets and information. Also working with Highland Council behaviour change staff at tourist locations.

An increase in the number of HGV drivers failing drug wipe tests has been noted and the police are keen to engage with the transport sector on this issue.

Enforcement has been focused on the area where it can have the greatest impact such as the “fatal 5” and vehicle roadworthiness.

Martin Reid enquired about arrangements for additional abnormal load movements associated with the renewable energy sector. Jonny Moran advised that no specific changes to the traffic management plans were envisaged for this, but they are open to dialogue on the topic.

Route Updates

BEAR Scotland (NW) - Kevin McKechnie

A9 Perth to Inverness

Completed schemes:

A9 Drumochter Duals Southbound Central Reserve – VRS installations to protect road users from hazards in the verge. All phases completed. Phase 1 Northbound central reserve VRS installation currently in progress. Phase 1 Southbound design work underway.

A9/A86 Kingussie Junction – a scheme developed to improve the conspicuity and definition of the junction through enhanced directional signing, solar powered bollards and marker posts.

A9 Hermitage to Bankfoot Signing works – works to improve standard of signing along this section and bring up to current standard.

A9 Dalnaspidal junction – Signing works completed with slight adjustments to road markings at lay-bys to progress in conjunction with an upcoming resurfacing scheme.

A9 Inverness to Scrabster

Completed schemes:

A9 North Kessock Junction - junction improvements including directional signing, marker posts and solar powered bollards. Works to commence on site November 2026.

A9 Findon Junction - Scheme designed to improve directional signing. Signing works complete with some road markings to be adjusted.

A9/A835 Tore Roundabout. Proposed speed limit reduction to 40mph at circulatory and approaches. Speed limit proposals advertised with some objections received. Further options to improve facilities for Non-Motorised Users being developed. Consideration of traffic signals to be installed.

A9 short-term measures – extension of Perth to Inverness short-term measures. Investigation and design work to commence this financial year.

Investigations

A9 Dunkeld and Inver Junction – Investigation to identify potential improvements to junction layout to improve road safety and operational capability of the junction. Cluster site investigation report first draft complete and with Transport Scotland for consideration. Vince Tait will liaise with Perth and Kinross Council regarding investigations into ongoing concerns.

A9 House of Bruar junction – The junction is to be investigated as a Moving Cursor Site this financial year.

Annual Road Safety Review led investigations ongoing at a number of locations including A9 Tomich Junction (on hold), A9 Croy to Fort Augustus junctions, A9 Delny Muir junction, A9 Kessock Bridge/Longman Rbt SB, A9 Ardullie to Dalmore and Dunrobin.

Active Travel

A9 Raigmore Interchange Improvements – Introduction of traffic signal control at the roundabout and improvements to the route for non-motorised users. Scheme complete. £4million value.

A9 Spittal Footway – works to provide a paved link between the village and the village hall and upgrade the existing street lighting. Works completed. £150k value.

A9 Tore Roundabout – investigation/design works to introduce traffic signals at Tore Roundabout under consideration, subject to available budget. Upgrades will also include improvements to the non-motorised user links in the area.

Minor improvements

The following works are ongoing since April 2026:

  • A9 Golspie Non-Motorised User improvements – £150k
  • A9 Scrabster - Ground Investigation - £150k
  • A9 Tore to Arpafeelie - VRS Upgrade - £530k
  • A9 Dunbeath VRS Upgrade - £70k

Approximately £900k of works since April 2026

Works planned for the second half of Financial Year 2026/27 are;

  • A9 Kintradwell VRS – £10k Investigation and design
  • A9 Portgower VRS – £10k Investigation and design.
  • A9 Scrabster - construction of new Landslide Debris Flow Barrier - £800k
  • A9 Scrabster - Investigation and design of long term landslide mitigation solution - £100k
  • A9 Brora NMU Improvements - £160k

Approximate value £1.1million

Structural Maintenance

Structural Maintenance schemes with a value of approx. £5.4M have been carried out since April with a further £6.2m currently programmed to be carried out over the coming months. BEAR Scotland have also undertaken various patching and other maintenance work valued at approximately £600k since April 2026.

Routine Maintenance

Since April 2026 the Routine Maintenance Team have completed a number of drainage investigation and construction schemes on the A9 valued at approximately £200k including improvements at;

  • A9 Tomich to Broomhill Drainage Investigation and construction works at a value of £70k, currently ongoing.
  • A9 Loth Drainage Improvement works at a value of £60k, completed August 2026.
  • A9 Skiach Junction Drainage Investigation, £33K, completed September 2026.
  • A9 General Wade Investigation works at a value of £20k, Completed October 2026.

Other works include Footway and signing schemes with a value of approximately £100k such as;

  • A9 Ardullie to Clashmore Signs, value £15k, completed in May 2026.
  • A9 North Kessock Layby (SB) Refurbishment, value £80k, works partially complete.

Works to be completed during the remainder of FY 2026/27 with an approximate value of £1.3million include;

  • A9 North Kessock Layby (SB) Refurbishment, value £80k, works programmed for completion in December.
  • A9 Longman Roundabout to Raigmore Interchange Pipe Replacement and Soakaway renewal, value £200k.
  • A9 Daviot Brae (NB Dual) Drainage works, estimated value £100k.

Structures & Bridges

Our structures and bridges team have completed schemes with an approximate value of £8million since April 2026. Some higher value examples are;

  • A9 1360 Cromarty Bridge Phase 3 Refurbishment Trial - £3.6m
  • A9 1350 Kessock Bridge Tower Rescue System - £2.2m
  • A9 810 W14 Drumochter 13 SB LA Wall Facing Repairs - £300k
  • A9 1600 Mound Sluices Refurbishment Arches 3 to 6 - £1.5m

A portfolio of approximately £5.4m worth of improvement schemes are planned to be underway on structures on the A9 in the 6 months to the end of the financial year. Some higher value examples of planned schemes are detailed below.

  • A9 470 Dalnabo OB Bearing Replacement - £280k
  • A9S 530 W1 Tummel Wall Replacement (Pitlochry) - £2.7m
  • A9 1190 Dulnain Parapet Replacement - £300k
  • A9 450 Tay River Bridge Pier and Drainage Repair - £250k
  • A9 1230 Findhorn Bridge Embankment Repairs - £300k
  • A9 1350 Kessock Gantry Rail Repairs & Edge Beam Painting - £500k
  • A9 1350 Kessock Br Buffers Exchange - £350k

AMEY (NE) - Peter McClelland

Amey is responsible for the section between Keir Roundabout and Broxden Roundabout. At Keir Roundabout a feasibility study is being considered too signalise this junction so as to measure road safety benefits against any anticipated negative consequences. Next year consideration will be given to improvements at Broxden Roundabout in conjunction with Perth and Kinross Council.

The section between Balhaldie and Queen Victoria junctions is currently under investigation to assess the need for, and feasibility of, potential road safety interventions.

Updates from group members

The Highland Council - Lisa Mackellaich

Confirmed that five schemes to improve lining and signing at the junctions of the feeder roads off the A9 have been completed with a further five being planned for this year.

The Tomatin community have raised further concerns about junction access during the dualling works.

The Highland Council are in dialogue with Transport Scotland regarding the Slochd Bridge and non-motorised users.

There is an elected member who is very keen to see works at Skiach junction completed. Vince Tait will update them accordingly as this was a Colliision Reduction scheme in 2026.

Road Haulage Association - Martin Reid

Martin advised that he took the topic of the cameras to detect distracted drivers or non-seatbelt wearing the regional council. He is liaising with the Road Safety Policy Team for materials that members can distribute in canteens and local community locations.

RHA Driver Wellbeing Charter being launched at Holyrood which the Traffic commissioner has acknowledged as good practice. It covers employee welfare issues such as mental health, exercise, rest etc.

There is a planning application for a truck stop at Inverness Caledonian Thistle football ground for safe HGV parking facilities. Part of application involves the roundabout and a request to TS to consider allowing access to the route that is currently for buses only to join carriageway by turning right at roundabout. Can TS advise / help to allow this as it will make a massive difference to alleviate problems and allow drivers to rest. Graeme Paget noted he has seen this and that TS need to ensure the impact isn’t negative on traffic flows on A9 before we can agree. Agreed this is a positive facility.

Road Safety Scotland - Michael McDonnell

Road Safety Scotland (RSS) has now updated its suite of learning resources for children and young people, all of which are available online and free to access. The most recent additions are ‘Mechanimals‘ (secondary school pupils) which replaces ‘Your Call and Crash Magnets’, and ‘Travel Together Safely’ (for those with complex Additional Support Needs (ASN)). In addition, all resources have been checked for suitability for children and young people with mild-to-moderate ASN. At the start of each academic year, educational establishments across Scotland are advised of this suite of resources and sent copies of the RSS guide: ‘Road Safety within Curriculum for Excellence.

RSS is working on developing a CPD Hub which will incorporate short videos and modules for the full suite of resources for 3–18-year-olds – designed to help support areas with limited road safety education input.

RSS will run a further Ziggy (Early years) roadshow (Jan-Mar 27) targeting ELCs in areas of high deprivation.

Campaign activity includes:

  • Motorbikes - which will continue to run at a lower level through the winter months).
  • Fitness to Drive – A roadshow touring the country engaging older drivers and offering free mature driver reviews in collaboration with IAMRoadsmart.
  • Drive on the Left – working in collaboration with a number of partners including the vehicle rental industry (now completed until next year).
  • Young Drivers: Drink/Drug-Driving (Dec/Jan) and Speed (Feb/Mar).
  • Vision Zero: activity will commence in Feb/Mar.
  • Seatbelts: funding has been released to undertake a seatbelts campaign, so we will start work on developing a specific young drivers’ execution for use in 2026/27.
  • Working in collaboration with Good Egg Safety and local partners, Child Car Seat Clinics have been ongoing throughout the summer months.

Police Scotland - Eric Dunion

Working with road policing on a national speed campaign with positive responses noted. Keen to find out how people around the A9 react to the methods of engagement with Police. On A9 specifically materials have been placed at petrol pumps between Perth and Inverness. Vince Tait suggested that consideration be given to the same initiative at EV charging locations.

A9 is a mixture of average speed and mobile camera enforcement and consideration is always being given to the changing mobile locations to fixed cameras so that the right technology is in place at each locations.

In reference to the TASCAR for the dualling works, speed compliance on the Tomatin to Moy section is very good. However on the Tay Crossing to Ballinluig section a high offending rate is being seen. Most offending vehicles are cars although one HGV was detected doing 70 mph. Most offences are at night time and during the weekends.

Transport Scotland - Network Maintenance - Graeme Paget

Maintenance around dualling is a bit of a challenge (usually overnight works) with limitations on access.

Advanced works and tree felling are still being carried out.

Hermitage in Dunkeld had issues with the weekend parking (traffic management was put in place for last weekend but noted the storm stopped people attending at that time).

There was a discussion about the retention of the VMS to promote speed compliance messages and overnight roadworks. Look at options for additional VMS on the network to relay messaging to the network for overnight road works etc. Noted messages would probably need to be removed to accommodate new ones.

Perth and Kinross Council are considering withdrawing some Standard Incident Diversion Routes (SIDRs) due to impacts on local roads and these are currently being looked at.

Potential for a closure of the A9 with amnesty towards the end of this year (comms to come out for that) this will be a first for A9 Dualling.

A9 Dualling update

Transport Scotland - Infrastructure Projects - Jonny Moran

Summy of activity:

A9 Framework - Currently at tender stage. Due for award by the end of 2026.

Tomatin to Moy - Over 50% through construction, on track for Spring 2028 opening. North end switchover of the new northbound carriageway has taken place (to allow construction of southbound carriageway) and amended arrangements at Tomatin junction will happen over the next few months. Community Council (Nethy Bridge) complimented the 40mph speed limit arrangements/enforcement, flows very well.

Dalraddy to Slochd - First project to be procured under the framework, with procurement to commence in early 2027. A Planning Application for the Aviemore to Carrbridge Non-motorised User (ACNMU) scheme was approved by the Planning Authority on the 28 August 2026. The ACNMU scheme will be included as part of the nearby Dalraddy to Slochd project, subject to obtaining the necessary land required for the scheme.

Pitlochry to Killiecrankie: -

Tay Crossing to Ballinluig - Contract awarded in July 2025 to Wills Bros Civil Engineering Ltd. Construction progress around 38%, on track for dualling being operational by end of 2028. Construction of southbound carriageway continues, installation of Guay South Overbridge planned for coming months.

Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing - Currently preparing for a Public Local Inquiry (PLI). A Pre-Inquiry meeting has been scheduled for 1 December 2026. It is likely that the PLI will be held in 2027, with the timescales for the Inquiry set by the appointed Reporter.

Planned Christmas hiatus, dates still to be confirmed. 

AOB

Nil

Conclusion

Consideration to be given to retention of mobile VMS with speed compliance messaging.

Liaison between Transport Scotland and Perth & Kinross Council regarding Birnam and Dunkeld junctions to continue.

Next meeting to be scheduled for around Easter 2027.

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Published Date 9 Nov 2026 Type Mode of transport Topic