Transport Scotland and the Scottish government have announced the winner of a £30 million contract to turn the A96 between Nairn and Inverness into a dual carriageway.

The project will be designed by Jacobs UK, ministers said on February 10th. They also suggested that the dualling could eventually be extended to the Moray area, which could call for bypasses at Elgin, Forres and Keith.

Keith Brown, the cabinet minister for infrastructure, investment and cities, said: "The Scottish Government has given a clear commitment to dual the A96, which will see delivery of around 88 miles of upgraded road between Inverness and Aberdeen, a huge task but one we are relishing.”
He added that draft work orders should be published in 2016. There are also hopes that the entire A96 between Aberdeen and Inverness (which is 88 miles in length) could become a dual carriageway, which the Scottish government plans to achieve by 2030.