Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
The next section of the A9 to be considered for dualling is being investigated by Transport Scotland.
The national transport agency has been asked by Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson to take forward the next stages of feasibility work for the dualling of the 18 miles of the A9 between Perth and Pitlochry.
The first stage of this design work focuses on the stretch of road between Luncarty and Pass of Birnam. This work will inform the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) which is due to report in Summer 2008.
Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said:
"The A9 is crucial to economic development in the north of Scotland. We made the commitment to plan for dualling the A9 when we came into office and today's announcement is a major step forward in that process.
"I asked Transport Scotland to identify the next possible stretch of the A9 to be dualled and these designs will now look at ways to widen the carriageway, close the central reservation gaps and introduce grade separated junctions.
"By undertaking the design work between Luncarty and Birnam, the potential project can be assessed in the STPR for funding with a robust basis for consideration."
Transport Scotland is the national transport agency responsible for road, rail and national concessionary travel. Transport Scotland is an executive agency directly accountable to Scottish Ministers and was established on January 1, 2006.
Transport Scotland recently appointed Atkins as their design consultant and site surveys will be undertaken during the first part of this year to gather environmental and traffic information with the overall study due to complete in the Autumn.
