A public local inquiry will be held in the wake of the decision to leave a section of the soon-to-be dualled A9 without a cycle path.
Transport Secretary Michael Matheson confirmed the inquiry will go ahead following objections to the proposed Dalraddy to Slochd scheme.
Opponents had called for the plans to be amended and said the failure to do so could now delay dualling.
Objections were submitted by Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA), Highland Council and the Carrbridge, Aviemore and Boat of Garten community councils over the failure to include an active travel pathway.
Highlands and Islands MSP Edward Mountain called earlier this month for Mr Matheson to show “a dose of healthy common sense” and amend plans to deliver an unbroken cycleway next to the A9 from Perth to Inverness.
Mr Matheson, however, said there are no powers available to ministers to use compulsory purchase orders to deliver the new facility between Aviemore and Carrbridge as part of the A9 dualling programme as he confirmed the inquiry will go ahead as planned.
Mr Mountain last night expressed his “huge disappointment” stating that it “shows a real lack of ambition”.
He added: “A climate emergency has been declared and the Scottish Government should be investing in active travel with a cycleway which runs alongside the A9 from Aviemore to Carrbridge.
“The National Cycle Network between Aviemore to Carrbridge is not a like for like alternative in place of a new cycleway because it departs from the route of the A9 and takes cyclists out towards Boat of Garten.”
He said the inquiry is “now inevitable” and could lead to the delay of the dualling project.
