Responding to the announcement that the A9 petition by Laura Hansler has been upgraded to a formal committee inquiry, Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston said:
“I’ve been pleased to join MSPs from across the political spectrum in supporting this petition in committee, and this is a positive development in attempts to get some answers on why this project has gone so badly wrong.
"Having launched, with my colleague Murdo Fraser MSP, our campaign for the road to be dualled as far back as 2006, I fully support campaigners’ efforts to get some answers on when promises made by the SNP to dual the road will finally be delivered.
“Everyone already knows how important dualling the A9 between Inverness and Perth is for safety reasons and for economic growth. It is a vital part of the connectivity of the Highlands and Islands, and has long been a priority for so many communities right across my region, and not just those who live along the route.
“I hope the inquiry will shine a light on what has gone so badly wrong with the project, and why successive Scottish ministers failed to be more open with the public, even when it was abundantly clear to everyone else that it was so badly off track.
“And I hope it will ensure, going forward, that the Scottish Government is more honest on when they will deliver what they promised over a decade ago”.
