Trio shortlisted for third £115m A9 dualling project

Transport for Scotland has shortlisted three firms for the third upgrade contract on the £3bn A9 dualling project.

Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering, John Graham Construction and Wills Bros Civil Engineering project will now fight it out to upgrade the 9.6 km stretch of the A9 between Tomatin and Moy.

Transport Scotland anticipates that the construction contract will be awarded in the second half of 2022.

The shortlist was announced as critical enabling works were completed involving the demolition of a 1884 masonry arch rail bridge at Lynebeg, near Inverness, followed by the successful installation of the new structure during a 78 hour possession of the Highland Mainline.

The completion of the bridge replacement at Lynebeg rail bridge marks a significant milestone in the progress of the A9 Dualling: Tomatin to Moy project and has been the culmination of years of meticulous planning and preparation with Network Rail, its contractor BAM Nuttall, Atkins Mouchel Joint Venture and Transport Scotland.

In addition to the new rail bridge, further advance works for the A9 Dualling: Tomatin to Moy project are expected to commence in early 2022 and will see the creation of a new non-motorised user route (NMU) which will initially facilitate local access to a new bus layby and shelter on the B1954.

Billy McKay, Network Rail’s Programme Manager for the Lynebeg bridge replacement works, said:“The installation was complex due to requirement to remove the existing railway infrastructure including cabling, track and the embankment, before the concrete bridge could be pushed into its final position.  And all against the clock due to the need to reinstate and re-open the line to traffic at the end of the possession.”

 

 

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Plan for £2bn Edinburgh West Town

A development consortium is advancing plans for a 7,000-home new town on a 200-acre site beside Edinburgh Airport.

Developer West Town Edinburgh is now moving forward with its plans for the £2bn ‘West Town’ following guidelines set out by the proposed Edinburgh City Plan 2030.

Oil and property magnate Sir Bill Gammell will head the ambitious plans after Drum Property Group made a significant equity investment in the development company taking on a key management and development role.

Sir Bill, Chairman of West Town Edinburgh, said:  “We see a wonderful opportunity and important responsibility working alongside all stakeholders to create a pioneering, innovative and sustainable legacy for the future West Town community of Edinburgh.”

The West Town site, located between Ingliston Park & Ride and the Gogar Roundabout, is regarded as one of the most strategically important development areas in Scotland.

Graeme Bone, Group Managing Director of Drum, said: “Drum has a proven track record of delivering high-quality large-scale communities across Scotland.

“This is a once-in-a generation opportunity to deliver the transformation of the west of Edinburgh while playing a critical role in Scotland’s economic recovery and ongoing development for decades to come.

“As well as the close proximity to the airport, the site has direct access to some of the best public transport in Scotland.

“The tram line travels directly through the site and there are integrated rail, cycle and road connections creating a strategic gateway to the city.”


Graeme Bone (L) Group Managing Director of Drum Property Group and Sir Bill Gammel (R) Chairman of West Town Edinburgh unveil the New Vision for West Town

 

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