Specialist finance and commercial advisors are to be recruited at a cost of £7.8million to drive forward the A9 dualling project.
And another £1.2million is being spent on the supply of native flower and grass seeds to plant along the route.
The contracts are the latest being offered by Government agency Transport Scotland as part of its £3billion project the dual the entire A9 between Inverness and Perth by 2025.
A Transport Scotland spokeswoman said: “We have commenced the process of appointing specialist commercial and financial advisers to provide advice and input to allow us to drive forward the delivery of the A9 dualling programme.
“This will include advice on the development, analysis and execution of suitable procurement strategies and other services including the analysis of tenders, governance, and commercial support during the construction phase.
“The value of this contract is included within the overall estimate for the delivery of the A9 dualling programme.”
“We expect that these advisors will be appointed in the coming months.”
Regarding the seed supply contract being offered, Transport Scotland has identified the requirement to appoint suppliers for all wildflower and grass seed likely to be required for the A9 dualling programme through to 2025.
The spokeswoman added: “The A9 dualling programme represents a key investment within the Scottish Government’s infrastructure investment programme.
“Meanwhile, we remain committed to securing a strong delivery model which delivers the A9 Dualling Programme within budget and at the earliest opportunity, and one which maximises the many benefits for road users, communities and businesses who live along or use this vital route.”
The A9 dualling programme will upgrade 80 miles of road from single to dual carriageway.
Transport Scotland’s £3 billion programme is designed to deliver economic growth through improved road safety and reliable and quicker journey times, as well as better links to pedestrian, cycling and public transport facilities.
Only the Kincraig to Dalraddy section has been finished so far, which represents just 6% of the 80 miles to be dualled.
Preparation work has begun on another section between Luncarty and Pass of Birnam in the coming months.
Transport Scotland previously said many of the other dualling sections are being progressed simultaneously, allowing the 2025 date to be achieved.
The route requires dualling between 11 sections: Luncarty to Pass of Birnam, Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing, Tay Crossing to Ballinluig, Pitlochry to Killiecrankie, Killiecrankie to Glen Garry, Glen Garry to Dalwhinnie, Dalwhinnie to Crubenmore, Crubenmore to Kincraig, Kincraig to Dalraddy, Dalraddy to Slochd, and Tomatin to Moy.
A total of 30 miles of the A9 between Perth and Inverness is already a dual carriageway.
