Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston said:
“This is yet another example of the SNP rowing back on promises that they made to local people.
“We already know that they are seeking to renege on dualling the A96, and now we have this evidence of a waning commitment to the A9 as well.
“The Highlands and Islands badly needs fit-for-purpose transport infrastructure, and has done since well before the economic shock of the Covid pandemic.
“But local people now only see increasing numbers of SNP transport failures, with the ferries in crisis, severe cuts to local train services only weeks after SNP ministers took direct control of ScotRail, and now commitments made to dual the A9 being watered down.
“It’s no wonder so many local people and businesses feel so badly let down by an SNP/Green Government in Edinburgh which appears to be quite happy making election promises they have little intention of delivering”.