Services Provided: Road Safety Audits (Design and Construction) of major UK Road Infrastructure
Location: A9, between Tomatin and Moy, 15km south of Inverness, Scotland, UK
Client: RPS Group (Designer) and Wills Bros Civil Engineering (Contractor)
Project Background
The A9 Dualling Tomatin to Moy project aims to transform a 9.6 km section of the A9 from a single carriageway into a dual carriageway. Located approximately 15km south of Inverness, the project intends to upgrade the A9 to a Dual 2 Lane All-Purpose (D2AP) standard to improve traffic flow, safety, and connectivity between key regions. Key improvements include:
- The addition of new grade-separated junctions
- Left-in/left-out (LILO) junctions
- Enhanced laybys
- Facilities for Non-Motorised Users (NMUs).
The project’s scope further incorporates the construction of bridges, culverts, retaining walls, slope adjustment for safer access, and sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) for environmental protection. To support these improvements, existing direct accesses are being restructured, and Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) will be integrated to enhance roadway communication and safety.
Audit Scope
The Stage 1 Road Safety Audit (RSA), conducted by an independent PMCE team, evaluated the project from April to May 2024. This audit was in alignment with the UK’s Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) requirements, focusing solely on identifying and addressing potential safety concerns. The RSA team conducted a site visit on April 23rd, 2024, under dry weather and road conditions. After returning to the office the RSA team undertook their independent review of the design package provided and held their audit team meeting to confirm the Stage 1 RSA report content.
