A community got a clearer glimpse of the future yesterday with revised proposals for dualling the A9 in its part of the Highlands.
The exhibition updated motorists and others about the design of the Dalwhinnie-Crubenmore stretch of the route in the wake of a “preferred route” announcement back in March.
The Scottish Government has pledged to dual the entire Perth-Inverness stretch by 2025. The Dalwhinnie-Crubenmore section is one of 11 to be upgraded.
The fifth public event in Dalwhinnie consulted the community, road users, local businesses and landowners on the third stage of the design process.
Plans and drawings for the full length of the project set out design work undertaken since a drop-in session in March 2016.
A 3D visualisation is available in video and interactive formats online.
The latest proposals incorporate the route’s Dalwhinnie junction design and connection to the village including a link to the A889, and the access and drainage proposals.
The latest design further refines verge widening, a safety barrier and updated signs.
A proposed embankment and cutting slopes have been regraded at specific locations “to provide a better fit with the surrounding landscape,” according to the roads agency Transport Scotland.
A new Dalwhinnie junction on the A9 and new link road connecting with the A889 have been further developed with a single span bridge over the River Truim.
Alternative A889 junction ideas also featured as part of the exhibition along with proposals for potential bus layby locations and footpaths.
Other new design features include new access tracks, a replacement junction at Cuaich, the diversion of an aqueduct to accommodate the dual carriageway, four new laybys on the southbound direction and three in northbound direction.
A spokesman for Transport Scotland said: “Further to the drop-in today, there will be ongoing consultation and any refinements will be incorporated into the design.”
An environmental assessment will follow and extra mitigation measures may be included prior to a further public consultation.
In the event of objections that cannot be resolved a public inquiry would follow.
Anyone wishing to respond to the proposals should email or post their thoughts by November 22.
