Industry heavyweights unite to tackle Scotland's most challenging road upgrade as A9 enters final chapter

Two of the UK's largest infrastructure contractors have joined forces in a bid to deliver the final £1.9 billion phase of the A9 dualling programme, bringing together decades of major project experience to complete one of Scotland's most politically sensitive and technically demanding transport schemes.

The new joint venture combines Balfour Beatty with Galliford Try's Scottish business, Morrison Construction, as the partners prepare to compete for the final five contracts under Transport Scotland's new NEC4 framework.

Collectively, the remaining packages will deliver around 92km of dual carriageway between Perth and Inverness, with construction scheduled to take place between 2027 and 2035.

The partnership reflects a growing trend across the infrastructure sector of combining complementary expertise on increasingly complex programmes.

By bringing together two contractors with extensive experience of delivering major transport infrastructure, the joint venture is expected to strengthen delivery capability while sharing technical knowledge, programme management expertise and construction risk across one of the UK's most demanding highways programmes.

Transport Scotland's move away from traditional project-by-project procurement towards an Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) model is intended to foster greater collaboration between client and contractor, enabling construction partners to influence design development at an earlier stage while creating a more balanced allocation of project risk.

For Balfour Beatty, the venture builds on an extensive history of involvement with the A9 programme, having completed the Luncarty to Pass of Birnam section and currently delivering the Tomatin to Moy scheme in partnership with Wills Bros.

For Morrison Construction, the alliance marks a return to competing for Scotland's largest strategic road schemes following the introduction of the revised procurement model.

The five remaining sections comprise:

Section	Estimated Value
Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing	£226 million
Killiecrankie to Glen Garry	£438 million
Glen Garry to Crubenmore	£336 million
Crubenmore to Kincraig	£344 million
Dalraddy to Slochd	£553 million

The Dalraddy to Slochd package, valued at £553 million, is expected to be the first scheme awarded under the new framework. Located north of Aviemore, it includes new grade-separated junctions at Aviemore South, Granish and Blackmount.

The framework competition is expected to conclude before the end of the year, with successful contractors announced ahead of the first call-off award.

Few UK road projects have attracted as much political scrutiny as the A9 dualling programme. Delays, rising costs and changing delivery timescales have made it one of Scotland's most closely watched transport investments. The formation of the Balfour Beatty–Morrison Construction joint venture represents one of the strongest teams yet assembled for the programme and signals a renewed determination to bring the long-running scheme to completion.

The Scottish Government remains committed to completing the full A9 dualling programme by the end of 2035, transforming one of the country's most strategically important transport corridors into a safer, more reliable route for communities, freight and the wider economy.