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A9 road (Scotland)

Coordinates: 57°17′31″N 3°52′48″W / 57.29206°N 3.87987°W / 57.29206; -3.87987
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A9 shield
A9
Route information
Part of E15
Length268.5 mi[1][2][3] (432.1 km)
Major junctions
South end M9 / A905 in Polmont
Major intersections M876 in Larbert
A91 in Bannockburn
M90 in Perth
A86 near Kingussie
A96 in Inverness
A82 in Inverness
North endScrabster
Location
CountryUnited Kingdom
Constituent countryScotland
Primary
destinations		Stirling, Perth, Inverness, Thurso
Road network
← A8→ A10

The A9 is a major road in Scotland running from the Falkirk council area in central Scotland to Scrabster Harbour, Thurso in the far north, via Stirling, Bridge of Allan, Perth and Inverness. At 273 miles (439 km), it is the longest road in Scotland and the fifth-longest A-road in the United Kingdom. Historically it was the main road between Edinburgh and John o' Groats, and has been called the spine of Scotland.[4] It is one of the three major north–south trunk routes linking the Central Belt to the Highlands – the others being 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 miles (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 miles (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.

A major project is underway to upgrade the A9 between Perth and Inverness.

History

[edit]
A section of one of General Wade's old military roads, south of Inverness.

The A9's origins lie in the 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]

Thomas Telford's Dunkeld Bridge crossing the River Tay
The Kessock Bridge, completed in 1982, which crosses the Moray Firth and shortened the route north out of Inverness by 14 miles (23 km)
The average speed cameras which became operational on the A9 in late 2014

In 1802, Thomas Telford was requested by the 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 A8. The route went through Kirkliston and onwards to Polmont and Falkirk. The road then followed the now familiar route to Stirling and then up to Perth and onwards to Inverness, going through numerous villages en route.[9][10] The original A9 terminated at Inverness, but in the years that followed it was extended to include the roadway all the way up to 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]

Improvements

[edit]

A9 dualling Perth to Inverness

[edit]
Main article: A9 dualling project

Between Perth and Inverness, a project is underway to upgrade the A9 from a single carriageway to a dual carriageway. This was due to the response in which overtaking can be dangerous and because a head-on collision can occur due to the lack of crash barriers.[13] This started in 2015 and was due to be finished in 2025, but delays to the project meant that meeting the original deadline was going to be impossible.[14] This project was announced in 2011. Only two out of the eleven sections have been completed as of December 2023. In October 2024, prepatory works began on the six mile section between Tomatin and Moy, with an expected cost of £308 million pounds.[15][16] Full construction work is to begin in spring 2025 and due to finish in three years time. A similar scheme is in place for the A96 between Aberdeen and Inverness.[16]Tay Crossing to Ballinluig sections (close to Perth) is under tender and should start construction in 2025.[17][18]

The 138 miles (222 km) section between Bridge of Allan and Inverness, via Perth, was substantially rebuilt during the 1970s and 80s, including the creation of the Jubilee Bridge in 1977. The improved A9 route follows essentially the same route as the initial road except where it bypasses towns and villages instead of running through their centres. Between Perth and Inverness, the road has been dubbed Killer A9,[13] because of accidents and fatalities where 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.

Average speed cameras were installed and became operational in 2014. At the same time, the HGV speed limit also increased from 40 to 50 mph.

Hairpin turn

[edit]

In 2014, Transport Scotland has announced a plan to improve Berriedale Braes' hairpin turn.[19] A fatal collision has occurred on that turn in September 2014 due to brake failure from a lorry.[20] One month earlier, a lorry caught fire, causing a 77-mile (123-km) diversion, though no one was hurt.[21] The improved hairpin turn opened to traffic on 21 August 2020.[22]

Route

[edit]
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.[23]

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.[24] 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).[25][26]

In the north, beyond Inverness, the A9 designation has been transferred in response to construction of new bridges across the Moray Firth (the Kessock Bridge), the Cromarty Firth and the Dornoch Firth; and so that the A9 leads not to John o' Groats but to 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.[27]

Between Perth and Inverness, the A9 forms part of Euroroute E15. Inverness is the northern terminus of this route.[28]

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

A9 near Dalwhinnie in 1979

From Bridge of Allan to Inverness the A9 runs through or near Lecropt, Dunblane, Blackford, Auchterarder, Gleneagles, Broxden Junction, Perth, Birnam, Dunkeld, Pitlochry, Blair Atholl, the Grampian Mountains, Dalwhinnie, Newtonmore, Kingussie, Aviemore, Carrbridge, Tomatin and Moy.

From Inverness the A9 runs across, through or near the Moray Firth, the Black Isle, Tore, Muir of Ord, Conon Bridge, the Cromarty Firth, Easter Ross, Dingwall, Evanton, Alness, Invergordon, Nigg Bay, Fearn, Tain, the Dornoch Firth, Sutherland, Dornoch, The Mound, Golspie, Dunrobin Castle, Brora, Helmsdale, Caithness, Berriedale (and the Berriedale Braes), Badbea, Dunbeath, Latheron, Mybster, Georgemas and Thurso. The road ends at Scrabster Harbour, Thurso.[29]

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

[edit]
CountyLocationmi[1][2][3]kmDestinationsNotes
FalkirkGrangemouth—Polmont boundary0.00.0 M9 / A905 (Inchyra Road / Beancross Road) to M876 / A904 – Edinburgh, Linlithgow, Glasgow, Kincardine Bridge, Clackmannanshire Bridge, Stirling, Grangemouth, Bo'nessSouthern terminus; M9 junction 5
Grangemouth—Falkirk boundary1.82.9 A904 (Falkirk Road / Grangemouth Road) to M9 – Grangemouth, Falkirk, Glasgow, Stirling
Camelon4.67.4 A803 east (Camelon Road) – FalkirkSouthern terminus of A803 concurrency
5.08.0 A803 west (Glasgow Road) to A883 – Denny, BonnybridgeNorthern terminus of A803 concurrency
Larbert7.311.7 M876 west / A88 east (Bellsdyke Road) to M80 – Glasgow, StenhousemuirWestern terminus of A88; M876 east junction 2
Larbert town boundary7.612.2 M876 east to M9 – Edinburgh, Grangemouth, Kincardine Bridge, Clackmannanshire BridgeM876 junction 2
StirlingBannockburn12.119.5 A91 to M9 / M90 / A872 – Stirling, Alloa, St Andrews, DennyTo A872 signed northbound only
Stirling13.822.2 A872 south (Glasgow Road) / B8051 (Ring Road / Borestone Crescent) to A811 / M9 / M90 – Denny, Erskine Bridge, Cambusbarron, Edinburgh, GlasgowNorthern terminus of A872
15.024.1 A905 south-east / Wellgreen Road / Goosecroft Road to A907 / A91 / M9 / M80 – Alloa, St AndrewsNorth-western terminus of A905; To M9 and M80 signed southbound only
15.925.6 A84 north / Union Street to M9 / A85 – Perth, CrianlarichSouthern terminus of A84
16.927.2 A907 east (Alloa Road) / Logie Road to A91 – Alloa, St Andrews, StirlingStirling 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		 A820 to A84 – Dunblane, Doune, CallanderGrade-separated junction; To A84 and Callander signed southbound only
Dunblane town boundary23.237.3B8033 – Dunblane, KinbuckGrade-separated junction
Perth and Kinross​26.743.0 A822 north – Greenloaning, Braco, Muthill, CrieffGrade-separated junction; northbound exit and southbound entrance; southern terminus of A822
​32.8–
33.7		52.8–
54.2		 A823 – Crieff, Dunfermline, Gleneagles, MuckhartGrade-separated junction
​34.355.2 A824 north-east (Western Road) – Auchterarder, AberuthvenSouth-western terminus of A824
​38.962.6 A824 south-west (Main Road) – Aberuthven, AuchterarderNorth-eastern terminus of A824
Perth city boundary46.775.2 M90 south / A93 north – Edinburgh, Perth, Dundee, Aberdeen, Coupar Angus, Blairgowrie, BraemarNorthern terminus of M90; southern terminus of A93; M90 junction 12
Perth48.0–
48.7		77.2–
78.4		 A85 to A82 – Crieff, Perth, CrianlarichGrade-separated junction; To A82 signed northbound only
49.279.2 A912 south-east (Dunkeld Road) / Ruthvenfield Road – Perth, RuthvenfieldRuthvenfield 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 A923 east to A984 – Dunkeld, Birnam, Blairgowrie, Coupar AngusWestern terminus of A923
​60.998.0 A822 south-west (Old Military Road) to A85 – Crieff, CrianlarichNorth-eastern terminus of A822
Logierait68.3–
68.8		109.9–
110.7		 A827 west – Ballinluig, AberfeldyGrade-separated junction; eastern terminus of A827
​71.8115.6 A924 north-west to A93 – Pitlochry, BraemarGrade-separated junction; northbound exit and southbound entrance; south-eastern terminus of A924
​74.4119.7 A924 south-east to 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
Highland​102.5165.0 A889 north (General Wade's Military Road) to A89 – Dalwhinnie, Laggan, Spean Bridge, Fort WilliamSouthern terminus of A889
​117.3–
117.5		188.8–
189.1		 A86 south-west / B9152 to A82 – Kingussie, KincraigGrade-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, AviemoreGrantown-on-Spey signed northbound only, To B9152 and Aviemore southbound only;south-western terminus of A95
​136.9220.3 A938 east to B9153 / A95 / A941 – Carrbridge, Boat of Garten, Nethy Bridge, Grantown-on-Spey, ElginOnly 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
Inverness city boundary157.2–
157.7		253.0–
253.8		 A96 east / B865 – Nairn, Aberdeen, InvernessGrade-separated junction; B865 and Inverness signed southbound only; western terminus of A96
158.5255.1 A82 south (Longman Road) / Stadium Road – Inverness, Fort WilliamNorthern terminus of A82
​158.9–
159.6		255.7–
256.9		Kessock Bridge over Beauly Firth
​160.7258.6North Kessock, Charleston, Kilmuir, Drumsmittal
Tore164.4264.6 A832 / A835 north-west to A862 – Ullapool, Dingwall, Muir of Ord, Beauly, Fortrose, CromartySouth-eastern terminus of A832
​169.9–
170.8		273.4–
274.9		Cromarty Bridge over Cromarty Firth
​171.0275.2 A862 south to A835 / A834 – Dingwall, Ullapool, Maryburgh, Strathpeffer, Muir of OrdTo A834 / A835 and Muir of Ord signed northbound only; northern terminus of A862
​193.5311.4 A836 north – Bonar Bridge, Ardgay, EddertonSouthern terminus of A836
​194.3–
194.8		312.7–
313.5		Dornoch Firth Bridge over Dornoch Firth
​196.9316.9 A949 west to A836 – Bonar Bridge, Spinningdale, Clashmore, LairgSouthern terminus of A949 concurrency
​198.1318.8 A949 east – Dornoch, Embo, SutherlandNorthern terminus of A949 concurrency
​204.3328.8 A839 west – Lairg, RogartSouthern terminus of A839
Helmsdale224.9361.9 A897 north (Dunrobin Street) – MelvichSouthern terminus of A897
Latheron243.1391.2 A99 north to A836 – Wick, John o' Groats, Gills BayTo A836, John o' Groats, and Gills Bay signed northbound only; southern terminus of A99
Georgemas260.5419.2 A882 south-east – Watten, WickWatten signed northbound only; north-western terminus of A882
Thurso266.2428.4 A836 north – Castletown, John o' Groats, Gills BaySouthern terminus of A836 concurrency
267.2430.0 A836 south – TongueNorthern terminus of A836 concurrency
Scrabster268.5432.1Ferry to StromnessNorthern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

[edit]
  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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. ^ "Thomas Telford's Bridge". Dunkeld and Birnam. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  9. ^ "List of Class I and Class II Roads and Numbers (transcription)". HMSO and National Archives files MT39/241 and MT39/246. Archived from the original on 1 August 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  10. ^ a b c "A9/history". SABRE. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  11. ^ "Sheet 20 – Central Ross Publication date: 1934". NLS. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  12. ^ "A88 (Inverness – Scrabster)". SABRE. Archived from the original on 14 September 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  13. ^ a b Maciver, Iain (19 July 2023). "Iain Maciver: Killer A9 should keep Scotland's politicians awake at night". Press and Journal. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  14. ^ "Delivery plan for remaining A9 dualling projects announced". Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  15. ^ "Cost of upgrading six miles of A9 near Inverness rises to £308m". BBC News. 16 October 2024.
  16. ^ a b "Works programme confirmed for A9 Dualling: Tomatin to Moy with preparatory works set to start on 21 October | Transport Scotland". www.transport.gov.scot.
  17. ^ "New Tender opportunity launched for A9 Dualling: Tomatin to Moy Project | Transport Scotland". transport.gov.scot. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  18. ^ "A9 Dualling Progress with Procurement for A9 Dualling: Tay Crossing to Ballinluig | Transport Scotland". transport.gov.scot. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  19. ^ "Plan for A9's Berriedale Braes hairpin bend to be displayed". BBC News. 18 November 2014.
  20. ^ "Catastrophic brake failure before fatal crash on A9". 9 March 2016.
  21. ^ "A9 lorry fire at Berriedale Braes causes 77-mile diversion". BBC News. 5 August 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  22. ^ "A9 Berriedale Braes Improvement Project". transport.gov.scot. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  23. ^ "Bad junctions – A9 – M90 – A93". cbrd.co.uk. Archived from the original on 22 August 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  24. ^ Duffy, Judith (25 March 2012). "Scotland's most dangerous roads". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  25. ^ "A9 average speed cameras 'have reduced speeding'". BBC News. 26 January 2015. Archived from the original on 29 September 2015. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
  26. ^ "Safety Cameras". A9 Road Info. Archived from the original on 11 August 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  27. ^ Towns and villages which were on the A9 but now quite remote from it:
  28. ^ "Road Traffic Infrastructure – European agreement on main international traffic arteries (AGR)" (PDF). unece.org/. United Nations Economic & Social Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 January 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  29. ^ "Scothighlands – Drive from Inverness to Scrabster, Scotland". scothighlands.com. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
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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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