Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
A £1.5 million pound safety upgrade to the key route for northern Scotland takes another major step forward today.
Transport Scotland has published a draft compulsory purchase order for the land required to progress this important improvement work.
The planned junction improvements will incorporate new slip roads to and from the southbound A9. This will remove right turns into Bankfoot to and from the A9 improving safety and traffic flow on this vital road for local communities and the northern economy as a whole.
Transport Minister, Stewart Stevenson said:
"This investment will improve safety for all users of the A9 and particularly for local residents in Bankfoot, who will be pleased to see another milestone towards delivery being reached.
"This Scottish Government is committed to providing a first class transport network which will support and grow our economy. This project plays a vital part in the delivery of our vision, bringing benefits not just to the North, but to the whole of Scotland."
Draft Slip Road and Side Road Orders for the A9 Bankfoot improvement project were published in December, signalling the start of the statutory process. The consultation period for these orders also ends today.
Subject to the successful outcome of these statutory procedures, it is estimated work will start in Autumn 2008 taking around six months to complete.
Karen Adam is now the MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast
