Holyrood bosses are being urged to take a “bold step” and set up a new committee to scrutinise Scottish Government progress on dualling the A9.
New Liberal Democrat MSP Andrew Baxter said such a move could “hold the Scottish Government’s feet to the fire” and ensure the project is finally completed.
But he also said it could become a model for the way major infrastructure projects are scrutinised going forward.
Mr Baxter, the new MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, has raised the matter with Holyrood Presiding Officer Kenneth Gibson.
The Parliament’s Public Petitions Committee recommended such a committee be set up in 2024.
MSPs on the committee said then that this could help “maintain momentum on scrutiny” in such a long-running project.
The Scottish Government first announced plans to dual the A9, which links Perth with Inverness, in 2011, and the work was originally to be carried out by 2025.
However, it is not now expected to be completed until 2035.
Dualling the road is not only seen as a vital step to improve safety, but could also benefit the Highland economy by improving transport links.
Mr Baxter said: “It took Nasa 11 years to put a man on the moon, but the SNP still haven’t come good on a near 20-year-old promise to dual the A9.
I believe we need to look to what more Parliament can do to hold the Scottish Government's feet to the fire to finally dual the A9
“Dualling the A9 is vitally important for all of the Highlands, to both make the road safer and to boost the Highland economy.
“I am determined to ensure the needs of the Highlands are heard loud and clear at Holyrood. That is why I believe we need to look to what more Parliament can do to hold the Scottish Government’s feet to the fire to finally dual the A9.”
Raising the issue in a letter to Mr Gibson, he added: “As we enter a new parliamentary session, Parliament now has the opportunity to take the bold step of establishing such a committee, not only to strengthen oversight of the A9 programme itself, but also to create a model for the scrutiny of future major infrastructure projects which extend across multiple parliamentary sessions.”
Noting that the work on the A9 will “continue well into future parliamentary terms”, Mr Baxter said that “sustained, informed and forensic scrutiny” of the project is required.
He said: “A committee with a focused remit could build up expertise on the complex issues and delivery challenges involved, while providing regular opportunities to hold ministers, Transport Scotland officials and delivery agencies properly to account.”
A Scottish Parliament spokesperson said: “Decisions about the establishment of committees is a matter for the bureau.”