Figures revealed in a Parliamentary Question submitted by Murdo Fraser MSP have shown that the A9 was closed for an accumulative total of nearly 5 days last year as a result of serious accidents. Murdo believes that these statistics underline the need for a dualled road as soon as possible.
The information was released alongside the details of closures on other main trunk roads in the Mid-Scotland and Fife electoral region. The A9 was closed as a result of a serious accident 17 more times than any other road in Perth and Kinross, Fife, Stirling and Clackmannanshire.
The economic impact to communities north of Perth as a result of road closures is yet to be fully analysed but conservative estimates put economic loss in the millions.
Commenting Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser said:
“As we can see from the official figures, the A9 is closed more frequently than any other trunk road in Perth and Kinross, Fife, Stirling and Clackmannanshire.
“The human loss as a result of this is devastating but there is also a massive economic cost for the communities north of Perth.
“Until the road between Perth and Inverness is completely dualled, horrific statistics like these will continue to be the norm. Only a dualled road can make travelling on the A9 safer.
“I would encourage the Scottish Government to move at pace with their dualling project, not just for the sake of drivers and families but for the communities whose livelihoods are disproportionately affected by road closures.”