The Scottish Government will be sent a dossier of alternatives to its A9 speed cameras plan as part of a drive to force ministers into an 11th-hour U-turn on the scheme.
Members of a group formed by north MP Danny Alexander insist it is not too late to put the brakes on the controversial project – despite most of the devices having already been installed.
They have produced their own blueprint for improving safety on the notorious route between Inverness and Perth.
It includes incentives for people to reduce traffic volumes by letting the train take the strain, better road marking and multilingual signs to help foreign drivers.
But backers of the average-speed cameras last night rubbished their efforts and accused Mr Alexander – who is also the UK Government’s chief secretary to the Treasury – of using the issue to try to win votes to secure his Commons seat.
The politicians’s Highland Infrastructure Forum – which includes representatives from business associations, A9 campaigners and political parties – met for the first time in Inverness yesterday.
They revealed a document of public responses put together by Mr Alexander’s office on ways to improve safety on the trunk road.
Mr Alexander said later: “I think that the views of the public are very powerful and I’m very grateful to everybody who has taken part.
“What comes across to me is the overwhelming sense that the A9 speed camera scheme is wrong and an overwhelming sense that the dualling needs to be accelerated massively.
“But also people have made suggestions of different things that could be done instead.
“I feel strongly that it is not too late for the Scottish Government to step back from this and this is what we are going to try and persuade them to do.
“Perhaps providing some new ideas could give them a way of saying ‘well we’re not going to take the speed cameras forward at this moment’.”
Suggestions include lobbying for a new railcard system for the Highland main line between Inverness and the central belt to encourage more people to use the train.
New multilingual signs and clearer markings on the road, were also suggested, and ongoing safety campaigns.
But Highland SNP MSP Dave Thompson and the Scottish Government were scathing of Mr Alexander’s efforts.
Mr Thompson said “nothing new” had come from the forum.
The Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP added: “Unfortunately I think it’s really just part of an effort to land a few blows on the Scottish Government.”
A spokesman for Transport Minister Keith Brown said: “The installation of speed cameras and other safety measures on the A9 are all about helping to cut the number of accidents, and ultimately about saving lives and preventing serious injuries.
“It is deeply irresponsible of Danny Alexander to try and turn this into a party political issue by mounting a campaign which ignores that simple fact – and he should think again.”
But Mike Burns, head of campaign group A9 Average Speed Cameras Are Not The Answer, said: “The forum has given itself a broad remit to discuss a number of different concerns, such as rail links and mobile phone coverage, but the hot topic is obviously the A9.
“What we are doing is drawing up a series of alternative measures which will be put to the Scottish Government, outlining some low cost, quick measures to improve safety.
“Nobody disputes that the A9 needs to be made safer, what we are concerned about is what is the best solution which can be delivered quickly.”