The Scottish government has revealed work to turn the A9 between Inverness and Perth into a dual carriageway will not be completed by its 2025 target.

MSPs committed to the project in 2011, when it was predicted to cost £3bn.

Transport minister Jenny Gilruth said on Wednesday that completion by 2025 was “unachievable”.

She revealed that the project had been hit by delays, highlighting the impact of the Covid pandemic, Brexit and the war in Ukraine.

Ms Gilruth said: “I fully appreciate that this will be disappointing news for many people. However, I want to be absolutely clear to the communities and businesses served by the A9 between Perth and Inverness, that the Scottish Government’s commitment to dualling the section between Tomatin and Moy is unaffected.

“This procurement process coincided with external factors including the pandemic, disruption caused by Brexit, and the war in Ukraine, with the inflationary impacts of those all affecting significantly the construction market.

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