I'm sorry we haven't dualled the A9 - Sturgeon

Nicola Sturgeon said the road project had faced some challenges beyond the Scottish government's control

Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon says she is sorry a commitment to dual the A9 from Inverness to Perth by 2025 could not be met.

She told a Holyrood inquiry she was not apologising because the SNP or Scottish government had "messed up", but because the £3bn project had faced significant challenges beyond their control, including from Brexit and the Covid pandemic.

Ms Sturgeon said: "I want to be clear that I do not accept that the failure to meet that target was because we just didn't bother and we weren't trying to meet that target."

The Scottish government made a commitment in 2011 to complete the project by 2025, but in February last year said the target was "unachievable".

In December, Transport Secretary Mairi McAllan announced a new rolling programme of improvements and said there would be "no let up" in the work.

Two sections of single carriageway totalling 11 miles (18km) of road have been upgraded over the past decade - but 77 miles of the route has still to be dualled.

Holyrood's citizen participation and petitions committee is gathering evidence on delays to the project.

Ms Sturgeon said the 2025 target was made in good faith, but she went on to pose the question whether the cabinet at the time was as candid with itself and the public about just how challenging the project was.

She said complexities included how the work would be funded, but there were also "unforeseen" issues caused by austerity, Brexit and the pandemic.

'Considerable dismay'

Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish government was still committed to dual the road.

Fergus Ewing, SNP MSP for Inverness and Nairn, said the missed 2025 target was the cause of "considerable dismay and concern" in the Highlands.

He asked Ms Sturgeon: "Do you feel now because this target was such a major promise for so long for the SNP and the Scottish government that an apology should be provided to the people of the Highlands?"

She said: "I am sorry we haven't dualled the A9 and I regret that and I think people in the Highlands have every right to feel the way they do.

"Not just because it is a target that was set and not met, but the nature of the project and the reasons for the commitment to deliver the A9 were so serious in terms of safety."

Ms Sturgeon added: "I am not sitting here saying we messed up because we didn't bother trying to do this.

"I am sorry a whole range of circumstances, many beyond our control, meant we weren't able to deliver on that target."

She also said she supported calls for a memorial to to those who have lost their lives on the A9.

The A9 is Scotland's longest trunk road

Former first minister Alex Salmond told the inquiry earlier it was a matter of "integrity and honour" for the Scottish government to complete the £3bn project to dual the A9 road.

Mr Salmond said the SNP cabinet he led in 2011 believed upgrading the road between Inverness and Perth could be finished by 2025.

But in December, the Scottish government said it would not be done until 2035 after being hit by delays.

Mr Salmond, now leader of the Alba Party, told the inquiry he felt "very strongly" the original commitment was not being kept.

The A9 is Scotland's longest trunk road, stretching from Caithness to central Scotland.