A9 road (Scotland)

Coordinates: 57°17′31″N 3°52′48″W / 57.29206°N 3.87987°W / 57.29206; -3.87987
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
(Redirected from
A9 road (Great Britain)
)

A9 shield
A9
Route information
Part of E15
Length268.5 mi
A86 near Kingussie

A82 in Inverness
North endScrabster
Location
Country
Primary
destinations
Stirling, Perth, Inverness, Thurso
Road network
←
A10

The A9 is a major road in Scotland running from the

A82 and the A90
.

The road's origins lie in the

military roads building programme of the 18th century, further supplemented by the building of several bridges in later years. The A9 route was formally designated in 1923, and originally ran from Edinburgh to Inverness. The route was soon extended north from Inverness up to John O'Groats. By the 1970s the route was hampered by severe traffic congestion, and an extensive upgrading programme was undertaken on the 138 mi (222 km) section between Bridge of Allan and Inverness. This involved the bypassing of numerous towns and villages on the route, and the building of several new bridges, notably the Kessock Bridge
which shortened the route north out of Inverness by 14 mi (23 km).

In the south the road's importance has been eclipsed by:

  1. the A90 across the Forth Road Bridge and the M90 motorway, which now link Edinburgh more directly with Perth, bypassing Stirling and Bridge of Allan as formerly important bridge points, and
  2. the M9, which is now the main road between Edinburgh and Stirling/Bridge of Allan.

Between Edinburgh and Falkirk the old A9 route has been reclassified into the A803 and the B9080 amongst others; part of the route between Kirkliston and Maybury no longer exists as the area is now part of Edinburgh Airport. Between Falkirk and Bridge of Allan, the A9 survives as a more or less parallel road to the M9.

The link between the M9 and the A9, by Bridge of Allan, is the Keir Roundabout.

History

military roads building programme carried out by General Wade in the 18th century to allow deployment of forces in key locations within the Highlands. At this time there was already an existing road between Perth and Dunkeld, and between 1727 and 1730 a roadway was constructed between Dunkeld in Perthshire and Inverness.[5]

However, Wade had still to bridge the River Tay at Aberfeldy. Construction began in 1733 to a design by William Adam. The bridge, named Wade's Bridge, was completed within the year, but Wade wrote "The Bridge of Tay... was a work of great difficulty and also much more expensive than was calculated." At a cost of over £4,000, the bridge became the most expensive item on Wade's road building programme.[6] For most of its length between Perth and Inverness, the route was identical to the A9 prior to the commencement of the major upgrading works in the 1970s.[5]

Lords of the Treasury to carry out a survey of the interior of the Scottish Highlands. In his report, he highlighted the inadequacy of the old military roads to meet the requirements of the general population. In particular, he noted the difficulties caused by the absence of bridges over some of the principal rivers.[7] As part of the improvements to the road system that were carried out in the following years, a bridge was built at Dunkeld, designed by Telford. The original cost estimate was £15,000 with costs to be split between the government and the landowner, the 4th Duke of Atholl. However, costs spiralled up to around £40,000. The government refused to increase their financial contribution, so the Duke of Atholl had to finance the extra cost. As a result, tolls were placed on the completed bridge to recoup costs. The realigned road north out of Dunkeld would evolve eventually into the A9, and the bridge carried the bulk of the traffic into the Highlands until the new A9 by-pass was opened in 1977.[8]

The old A9 (now B8079) as it crosses the Allt Girnaig river at Killiecrankie

The formal scheme of classification of roads in Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales) was first published on 1 April 1923. The original route of the designated A9 began in Edinburgh at the Corstorphine junction in the west of the city, branching north off the

John O'Groats. By the 1970s, the A9 went north-west out of Inverness in what had originally been classified as the A88,[11][12] following the Beauly Firth coast westwards through Kirkhill, Beauly and Muir of Ord. Continuing north through Dingwall, the road then began to follow the Cromarty Firth coast, where it followed largely the modern alignment, going through Alness and Tain (both now bypassed). The A9 from here followed west along the south side of the Dornoch Firth coast before reaching Bonar Bridge where the road turned sharply eastwards on the north side of the Dornoch Firth. On reaching the village of Dornoch, the A9 headed north along the coast, going through several villages before reaching the town of Wick. The final stretch continued north along the coast before it finally reached John O'Groats.[10]

Upgrades

The 138 mi (222 km) section between Bridge of Allan and Inverness, via Perth, was substantially rebuilt during the 1970s and 80s, but it follows essentially the same route except where it bypasses towns and villages instead of running through their centres. Between Perth and Inverness, the road has been dubbed

dual-carriageway sections merge into a single-carriageway - the principal cause being motorists driving at excessive speeds to overtake lines of slower-moving vehicles before the dual carriageway ends. Dangerous overtaking manoeuvres on the long single-carriageway stretches of the road are also common causes of accidents, as are the non-grade separated junctions along the northern sections, where drivers make a right turn across the opposing traffic flow.[14]

One of the sections of dual carriageway built in the late 1970s/ early 1980s; this is the section in the north of Perthshire between Dalnacardoch and Dalnaspidal

The most significant alteration of the A9 route was the realignment of the route north from Inverness, crossing the Moray Firth via the Kessock Bridge, cutting through the Black Isle and back across the Cromarty Firth. This shortened the route by 14 mi (23 km), bypassing Beauly, Muir of Ord and Dingwall. Construction of the Kessock Bridge began in 1976 and it was completed in 1982.[15]

Since 2007, the Scottish Government has given serious consideration to converting the entire Perth-Inverness section to dual carriageway with more grade separated junctions, with the initial estimated cost at £600 million.[16] In late 2008, the Scottish Government's transport plan for the next 20 years was announced. It brought forward planned improvements to the A9 in an attempt to stimulate the economy and protect jobs.[17] Work costing a total of £8.5 million was undertaken at Moy, Carrbridge and Bankfoot. Northbound overtaking lanes were created and the carriageway was reconstructed at both Moy and Carrbridge. Junction improvements were also made at Moy and at the Ballinluig junction, south of Pitlochry.[17][18]

In November 2011, the Scottish Government announced that it would upgrade the entire road from Perth to Inverness to dual carriageway.

Jacobs in August 2014[21] and Lot 3 was awarded to an Atkins/Mouchel joint venture in December 2014.[22] Award of the construction contract for a preliminary section (outwith Lots 1 to 3) of the £3 billion project was awarded in June 2015,[23] and work began on the 5 mi (8 km) section between Kincraig and Dalraddy (just south of Aviemore) in September 2015. After a slight delay, this section was opened to traffic on 30 September 2017.[24] The full scheme was originally scheduled for completion in 2025,[25][26][27] but in December 2023 this deadline was postponed by a decade to late 2035.[28]

In July 2013, the Scottish Government announced a plan to install average speed cameras on the A9 between Perth and Inverness. This has been undertaken with an aim to reduce accidents and fatalities on the road, and was the second permanent average speed camera scheme in Scotland.[29] Simultaneously, an increased speed limit for heavy goods vehicles from 40 mph (65 km/h) to 50 mph (80 km/h) was introduced to help mitigate driver frustration. The cameras became operational in October 2014. The A9 Safety Group claim that the cameras have had a "positive influence" on road users, with the number of drivers breaking the speed limit by over 10 mph (16 km/h) decreasing by 97%.[30] Improvements to safety include at least 40% reduction in fatalities, and this has been attributed, at least in part, to a reduction in speeding, from 1 in 3 vehicles to just 1 in 15.[31]

A study in 2016 found that the dualling project would cost more to construct than it would bring in, including wider economic benefits.[32]

Dualling work in 2021

Plans to dual the A9 and A96 have been criticised by Patrick Harvie of the Scottish Greens, who has said the plans are incompatible with the Scottish Government's climate initiatives.[33]

The A9 runs through the site of the Battle of Killiecrankie. Expanding the road here will destroy some of the battleground. Transport Scotland say dualling the road will have "some impact" on the site.[34]

Route

Highland Main Line and A9 highway next to each other in Perthshire, September 2000

The original starting section of the A9 between Edinburgh and Polmont no longer exists as such, having been reclassified over the years in a variety of ways; part of the original route between Kirkliston and Maybury no longer exists at all as the area is now part of Edinburgh Airport.[10] The modern A9 begins at the M9 junction 5 (Cadgers Brae) on the outskirts of Polmont, just east of Falkirk, and continues through Falkirk itself and on though Larbert, Stirling and Bridge of Allan. It then becomes a primary route dual carriageway at the Keir Roundabout, just south of Dunblane, and continues north as a dual carriageway to Perth bypassing Dunblane, Blackford and Auchterarder.

At Broxden Junction on the outskirts of Perth, the A9 meets the M90 motorway which carries traffic from Fife and the Forth Road Bridge. Broxden Junction is one of the busiest and most important road junctions in Scotland, with links to all eight Scottish cities.[35]

The section between Perth and Inverness is often cited as being the most dangerous section of the road, and regularly appears in lists of Scotland's most dangerous roads.[14] This portion of the road is mostly single-carriageway, however there are intermittent short sections of dual carriageway from Perth to Birnam, Pitlochry to Killiecrankie, south of Drumochter Summit, Slochd Summit to Tomatin and south of Inverness as well as shorter three lane overtaking sections to reduce frustration and accidents. All the towns on this section of the route have now been bypassed.

The section from Keir Roundabout to Inverness had average speed cameras installed in 2014 and at the same time the single carriageway speed limit for HGVs was increased from 40 mph (65 km/h) to 50 mph (80 km/h).[30][36]

In the north, beyond Inverness, the A9 designation has been transferred in response to construction of new bridges across the

Scrabster Harbour, Thurso, where a government-supported ferry service takes traffic to and from Stromness in Orkney. Therefore, various towns and villages which were on the A9 are now seriously distanced from this trunk road.[37]

Between Perth and Inverness, the A9 forms part of

Euroroute E15. Inverness is the northern terminus of this route.[38]

From Falkirk to Bridge of Allan the A9 runs through or near Bannockburn, Plean, Torwood, Larbert and Stirling.

A9 near Dalwhinnie in 1979

From

Grampian Mountains, Dalwhinnie, Newtonmore, Kingussie, Aviemore, Carrbridge, Tomatin and Moy
.

From

Berriedale Braes), Badbea, Dunbeath, Latheron, Mybster
,
Scrabster Harbour, Thurso.[39]

From the A96 in the Raigmore area of Inverness the A9 has junctions with other classified roads as follows:

The A9 as it heads north towards the Cromarty Firth causeway, near Dingwall
The A9 north of Brora
Articulated trucks negotiating the hairpin bends at Berriedale
Scrabster harbour, where the A9 now terminates in the north

The A9 ends in Thurso, at

Scrabster Harbour (ND101704
).

Junction list

CountyLocationmi[1][2][3]kmDestinationsNotes
A904 – Edinburgh, Linlithgow, Glasgow, Kincardine Bridge, Clackmannanshire Bridge, Stirling, Grangemouth, Bo'ness
Southern terminus; M9 junction 5
A904 (Falkirk Road / Grangemouth Road) to M9 – Grangemouth, Falkirk, Glasgow, Stirling
A803 east (Camelon Road) – Falkirk
Southern terminus of A803 concurrency
5.08.0
A883 – Denny, Bonnybridge
Northern terminus of A803 concurrency
A88 east (Bellsdyke Road) to M80 – Glasgow, Stenhousemuir
Western terminus of A88; M876 east junction 2
Larbert town boundary7.612.2 M876 east to M9 – Edinburgh, Grangemouth, Kincardine Bridge, Clackmannanshire BridgeM876 junction 2
A872 – Stirling, Alloa, St Andrews, Denny
To A872 signed northbound only
A811 / M9 / M90 – Denny, Erskine Bridge, Cambusbarron, Edinburgh, Glasgow
Northern terminus of A872
15.024.1
A91 / M9 / M80 – Alloa, St Andrews
North-western terminus of A905; To M9 and M80 signed southbound only
15.925.6
Perth, Crianlarich
Southern terminus of A84
16.927.2
A91 – Alloa, St Andrews, Stirling
Stirling signed southbound only; western terminus of A907
​20.032.2 M9 south-east / B824 / B8083 (Stirling Road) – Dunblane, Doune, Stirling, Glasgow, EdinburghStirling, Glasgow, and Edinburgh signed southbound only; north-western terminus of M9; M9 junction 11
​21.4–
21.9		34.4–
35.2
A84 – Dunblane, Doune, Callander
Grade-separated junction; To A84 and Callander signed southbound only
Dunblane town boundary23.237.3B8033 – Dunblane, KinbuckGrade-separated junction
A822 north – Greenloaning, Braco, Muthill, Crieff
Grade-separated junction; northbound exit and southbound entrance; southern terminus of A822
​32.8–
33.7		52.8–
54.2
Gleneagles, Muckhart
Grade-separated junction
​34.355.2
A824 north-east (Western Road) – Auchterarder, Aberuthven
South-western terminus of A824
​38.962.6
A824 south-west (Main Road) – Aberuthven, Auchterarder
North-eastern terminus of A824
A93 north – Edinburgh, Perth, Dundee, Aberdeen, Coupar Angus, Blairgowrie, Braemar
Northern terminus of M90; southern terminus of A93; M90 junction 12
A82 – Crieff, Perth, Crianlarich
Grade-separated junction; To A82 signed northbound only
49.279.2
A912 south-east (Dunkeld Road) / Ruthvenfield Road – Perth, Ruthvenfield
Ruthvenfield signed northbound only; north-western terminus of A912
Luncarty village boundary51.182.2B9099 to B8063 – Luncarty, Stanley, BattlebyGrade-separated junction; no southbound exit
​53.285.6To B9099 – Tullybelton, Stanley, LuncartyGrade-separated junction; Luncarty signed southbound only
​54.4–
55.1		87.5–
88.7		B867 – BankfootGrade-separated junction
​60.897.8
A984 – Dunkeld, Birnam, Blairgowrie, Coupar Angus
Western terminus of A923
​60.998.0
A85 – Crieff, Crianlarich
North-eastern terminus of A822
A827 west – Ballinluig, Aberfeldy
Grade-separated junction; eastern terminus of A827
​71.8115.6
A93 – Pitlochry, Braemar
Grade-separated junction; northbound exit and southbound entrance; south-eastern terminus of A924
​74.4119.7
A93 – Pitlochry, Braemar
B8019 – Killiecrankie, Tummel Bridge, Kinloch Rannoch
A924 and destinations signed southbound only, B8019 and destinations northbound only; Grade-separated junction; north-western terminus of A924
A89 – Dalwhinnie, Laggan, Spean Bridge, Fort William
Southern terminus of A889
​117.3–
117.5		188.8–
189.1
A82 – Kingussie, Kincraig
Grade-separated junction; B9152 and Kincraig signed northbound only; To A82, Newtonmore, Spean Bridge, and Fort William signed southbound only; north-eastern terminus of A86
​130.4209.9
A95 north-east to B9152 – Keith, Grantown-on-Spey, Aviemore
Grantown-on-Spey signed northbound only, To B9152 and Aviemore southbound only;south-western terminus of A95
​136.9220.3
A941 – Carrbridge, Boat of Garten, Nethy Bridge, Grantown-on-Spey, Elgin
Only A938 and Carrbridge signed northbound; western terminus of A938
​155.0249.4B9177 to B9006 – Milton of Leys, CullodenGrade-separated junction
​156.6252.0B9006 – Culloden, CroyGrade-separated junction; southbound exit and entrance
Inverness156.8252.3Hilton, Culduthel, Culcabock, CrownGrade-separated junction; northbound exit and entrance
A96 east / B865 – Nairn, Aberdeen, Inverness
Grade-separated junction; B865 and Inverness signed southbound only; western terminus of A96
158.5255.1
A82 south (Longman Road) / Stadium Road – Inverness, Fort William
Northern terminus of A82
​158.9–
159.6		255.7–
256.9		Kessock Bridge over Beauly Firth
​160.7258.6North Kessock, Charleston, Kilmuir, Drumsmittal
A862 – Ullapool, Dingwall, Muir of Ord, Beauly, Fortrose, Cromarty
South-eastern terminus of A832
​169.9–
170.8		273.4–
274.9		Cromarty Bridge over Cromarty Firth
​171.0275.2
A834 – Dingwall, Ullapool, Maryburgh, Strathpeffer, Muir of Ord
To A834 / A835 and Muir of Ord signed northbound only; northern terminus of A862
​193.5311.4
A836 north – Bonar Bridge, Ardgay, Edderton
Southern terminus of A836
​194.3–
194.8		312.7–
313.5		Dornoch Firth Bridge over Dornoch Firth
​196.9316.9
A836 – Bonar Bridge, Spinningdale, Clashmore, Lairg
Southern terminus of A949 concurrency
​198.1318.8
A949 east – Dornoch, Embo, Sutherland
Northern terminus of A949 concurrency
​204.3328.8
A839 west – Lairg, Rogart
Southern terminus of A839
A897 north (Dunrobin Street) – Melvich
Southern terminus of A897
A836 – Wick, John o' Groats, Gills Bay
To A836, John o' Groats, and Gills Bay signed northbound only; southern terminus of A99
A882 south-east – Watten, Wick
Watten signed northbound only; north-western terminus of A882
A836 north – Castletown, John o' Groats, Gills Bay
Southern terminus of A836 concurrency
267.2430.0
Tongue
Northern terminus of A836 concurrency
Scrabster268.5432.1Ferry to StromnessNorthern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

  1. ^ a b "Grangemouth, United Kingdom to CamperKing Scotland, Unit 11, Abbotsford Business Park, Lammermoor Avenue, Falkirk FK2 7ZS, United Kingdom to A9, Stirling, UK to 40B Bannockburn Rd, Stirling FK7 0BP, UK to Strathallan Games Park, 7 Airthrey Ave, Bridge of Allan, Stirling FK9 4QY, United Kingdom to A9, Dalwhinnie PH19 1AE, UK". Google Maps. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  2. ^ a b "A9, Dalwhinnie PH19 1AE, UK to A9, Dornoch IV25 3HZ, UK". Google Maps. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  3. ^ a b "A9, Dornoch IV25 3HZ, UK to The Harbour Takeaway and Diner, The Harbour, Scrabster KW14 7UJ, United Kingdom". Google Maps. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  4. ^ Dr. James Fenton. "Woodlands and Wildness". Scottish Wild Land Group. Archived from the original on 15 December 2005. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
  5. ^ a b "The Military Roads of Scotland". Old Roads of Scotland. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  6. ^ "History - General Wade's Roads". Scottish Towns. Archived from the original on 31 January 2000.
  7. ^ "Thomas Telford and Dunkeld Bridge". Visit Dunkeld. Archived from the original on 1 November 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  8. ^ "Thomas Telford's Bridge". Dunkeld and Birnam. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
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  14. ^ a b Duffy, Judith (25 March 2012). "Scotland's most dangerous roads". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
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  16. ^ "Full A9 upgrade 'to bring extra £300m into economy'". Inverness Courier. 2 November 2007. Archived from the original on 31 January 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  17. ^ a b "A9 upgrades brought forward in bid to boost economy". Inverness Courier. 5 December 2008. Archived from the original on 31 January 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  18. ^ "The toll road: The dangers of driving the A9". The Scotsman. 21 November 2010. Archived from the original on 26 January 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  19. ^ "Dualling of Perth to Inverness A9 to finish by 2025". BBC News (Scotland - Highlands & Islands). 29 November 2011. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  20. ^ "First multi-million pound A9 Dualling design contract awarded - Ground investigation work to get underway | Transport Scotland". www.transportscotland.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 25 November 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  21. ^ "Another multi-million pound A9 dualling contract awarded | Transport Scotland". www.transportscotland.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 25 November 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  22. ^ "Young People Jobs Boost From A9 Dualling Contracts | Transport Scotland". www.transportscotland.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 25 November 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  23. ^ "Major Milestone As A9 Dualling Construction Set To Get Underway | Transport Scotland". www.transportscotland.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 25 November 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  24. ^ "First new stretch of A9 dual carriageway opens". BBC News. 30 September 2017. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  25. ^ Candlish, June (16 June 2015). "First contract awarded to start dualling of the A9". The Press & Journal. Archived from the original on 25 November 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
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  28. ^ "Delivery plan for remaining A9 dualling projects announced". Retrieved 27 December 2023.
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  36. ^ "Safety Cameras". A9 Road Info. Archived from the original on 11 August 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  37. ^ Towns and villages which were on the A9 but now quite remote from it:
  38. ^ "Road Traffic Infrastructure - European agreement on main international traffic arteries (AGR)" (PDF). www.unece.org/. United Nations Economic & Social Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 January 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  39. ^ "Scothighlands - Drive from Inverness to Scrabster, Scotland". www.scothighlands.com. Retrieved 24 November 2019.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to A9 road (Great Britain).

57°17′31″N 3°52′48″W / 57.29206°N 3.87987°W / 57.29206; -3.87987

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