NatureScot Commissioned Report 1003 - Developing a mitigation monitoring approach for the A9 and A96 dualling projects

SNH Commissioned Report 1003 front cover

The construction and upgrading of roads, and the use of these roads, may harm local species, habitats and populations. Mitigation structures such as overpasses and underpasses are costly to put in place. Yet very little data exists to tell us if road mitigation projects in Scotland are effective.

Transport Scotland is carrying out two major road improvement projects:

  • A9 dualling programme - to upgrade 80 miles of road between Perth and Inverness from single to dual carriageway
  • A96 dualling programme - to upgrade 86 miles of single carriageway between Inverness and Aberdeen

A mitigation monitoring approach is needed to assess the use and/or effectiveness of mitigation provided to allow connectivity post-construction. This report outlines a choice of four mitigation monitoring approaches that can be applied to both online and offline dualling projects.

If taken forward, these approaches could improve our understanding of the:

  • environmental impact of roads
  • use and effectiveness of mitigation structures


Pages: 74
Published: 2017

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Publication 2017 - NatureScot Commissioned Report 1003 - Developing a mitigation monitoring approach for the A9 and A96 dualling projects

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