£50m A96 dualling contract up for grabs

Contractors are being invited to tender for a £50 million design contract notice for dualling work on the A96 in Scotland.

Following the award earlier this year of a major design contract worth £30m for the Inverness to Nairn (including Nairn Bypass) section of the A96 dualling programme, this contract, worth between £40 and £50m, covers around 29 miles of the western section of the A96 east of Auldearn to east of Fochabers.

Cabinet Secretary for infrastructure, investment and cities, Keith Brown (pictured), said:

“This major contract marks a further milestone towards the dualling of the A96 with all the investment and improvements that will bring to the Highland’s and north-east of Scotland.

“The publication of this contract notice marks another significant milestone in a dualling programme that will deliver a number of benefits when completed, including improved journey time and reliability, improved connectivity and improved road safety for all those who use this key artery connecting two of Scotland’s economic hubs.

“When this contract is awarded early next year, design work for the western section will step up a gear with route option assessment work getting underway. This contract will also provide the successful bidders with steady work for years to come and many more opportunities for small and medium enterprises through subcontracted work, so it will be a boost for the local and national economy.”