One of the most important transport routes from Moray to the south is to see major improvements through a £1million Scottish Government investment this year.
The A95 between Keith and Aviemore is vital for transporting the output from Speyside’s whisky industry to markets in the south – as well as for the Moray tourism industry.
Now a local councillor for the Speyside/Glenlivet ward most affected has welcomed the investment – but warning that the pressure must be maintained to ensure further improvement to the route that would match the increasing investments being made by the whisky industry.
Councillor Fiona Murdoch said: “This road is bearing the load of Moray’s growing economy with increasing numbers of HGVs, particularly for the distilling and food industries.
“In addition to these works, the strategic transport authority Hitrans has allocated £20,000 to the Moray Economic Partnership towards investigating new passing opportunities between Aberlour and Grantown.
“We in Moray must keep up the pressure for further improvements to a road which is vital to our tourism and food and drink industries.”
Further improvements to the route in future are also being helped by a £20,000 investment from transport authority Hitrans, who have awarded the cash to the Moray Economic Partnership to allow a study into new passing opportunities on the road between Aberlour and Grantown.