Highland business leaders slam "sub-standard" A9 BUSINESS leaders have branded the notorious A9 sub-standard with only one per cent claiming they are comfortable driving on the Inverness to Perth trunk road. A major new study reveals that businesses believe the dualling of the A9 - and the A96 Aberdeen to Inverness route - would provide a vital economic boost to the region. But the Rail Feight Group has heavily criticised the report, which was carried out by the Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI) on behalf of government body Transport Scotland, claiming it is imbalanced and ignores the benefits of the rail network. Campaigners for dualling the A9 - dubbed the most dangerous road in Scotland - and the A96 claim the study backs their calls for planned improvements to be speeded up. The Scottish Government proposes to dual the A9 from Inverness to Perth by 2025 and the whole length of the A96 by 2030. A total of 210 businesses in the Highlands and Moray were polled in the study with the majority expressing fears about the current state of the region's main trunk routes. The A9 was rated as "poor" or "very poor" for safety by 70% of those who responded, with only one per cent of businesses claiming to be "very comfortable" driving on it. The report by SCDI - an independent economic development organisation representing 1,200 companies, SMEs, public sector bodies, charities, trade unions and faith groups - states the benefits of dualling the roads include making the area more attractive to investors, reducing transport costs and improving business confidence. Nearly two thirds of businesses say they make allowances for constraints imposed by the current condition of the roads. SCDI's Highlands and Islands chairman Michael Urquhart said connecting all of Scotland's cities with modern dual carriageways would have a "substantial, long-term, widespread and potentially transformational economic impact." He added: "Businesses clearly regard the existing roads as substandard and there are significant direct negative impacts on a large number of businesses across key sectors. Businesses highlight that the greatest benefits of dualling both the A9 and A96 would be to increase the attractiveness of the north of Scotland for investment, reduce transport costs, improve business confidence and make journeys safer. Cut deaths MSP Murdo Fraser, who has long campaigned for dualling in a bid to cut deaths on the road, said: The findings of this survey highlight why the Scottish Government must fast-track the A9 dualling. "To have nearly 70% of the survey respondents rating A9 safety at "poor" or "very poor" is simply frightening. This is Scotland's deadliest road and the cold, hard facts state that the longer we wait the more casualties we will have. There were 72 deaths on the A9 between 2005 and 2010, with a further 14 in 2011 and another 10 in 2012. The MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife added: "Businesses and consumers would benefit faster delivery times and a dualled road would encourage further investment in the area. The imbalance in digital and physical infrastructure between rural and urban Scotland must be reduced if we are to fully exploit the potential of the Highlands and other regions. The survey sought views from various businesses, including those in the oil and gas sector, retail and tourism. Scottish Transport Minister Keith Brown said the SCDI study provided "clear evidence" of why the government attached a high priority to connecting Scotland's cities with dual carriageways. He added: "Dualling the A9 between Perth and Inverness and the A96 between Inverness and Aberdeen will bring many benefits for businesses who use these vital routes to transport goods or to connect with the commercial centres of Perth, Inverness, or Aberdeen and further afield. Infrastructure investment by this government, such as these ambitious dualling programmes, is funamental to delivering sustainable economic growth, supporting jobs and enabling businesses to grow. Plans are under way to introduce controversial average-speed cameras on the A9, with 100 cameras at 40 locations, with the Government claiming it would cut fatalities on the road. Free Church leaders call for dualling of A9