A96 review outcome delayed again
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OUTCOMES from the ongoing A96 Corridor Review have been delayed further, a Scottish Government spokesperson has confirmed.
In a statement which follows First Minister Humza Yousaf's failure to announce any progress on the A96 dualling project, a spokesperson for the Scottish Government said outcomes were now expected "in the coming months".
The new statement confirms another delay to the announcement – originally planned for December 2022 – as, in July, Mr Yousaf said: "We will give an update when Parliament returns, of course, later into the Autumn."
"Further detailed work" is now being undertaken to "inform the remaining stages of the review", the spokesperson said.
The Scottish Government spokesperson said: “As the First Minister made clear in his statement on the Programme for Government, we are fully committed to making improvements to the A96.
"The current plan is to fully dual the route and as part of this process we are undertaking a transparent, evidence-based review of the programme.
“Following publication of the initial appraisal report and the accompanying consultation report at the end of last year, we are now pushing forward with the further detailed work to inform the remaining stages of the review.
"These include a robust appraisal of the retained options alongside a Climate Compatibility Assessment and statutory assessments, with outcomes from this expected to be ready in the coming months for final public consultation, before a final decision can be reached.
“The Scottish Government is also committed to dualling the Inverness to Nairn section including the Nairn bypass and we continue to progress the preparation stages of the scheme with a view to completing the statutory process for that as soon as possible.”
