A9 road

The A9 is a major road running from the Falkirk area in the south of Scotland to Thurso in the far north, via Stirling, Bridge of Allan, Perth and Inverness. It is the longest road in Scotland. Historically it was the main road between Edinburgh and John O Groats, and has been called the spine of Scotland.

Related Topics:
Road - Falkirk - Scotland - Thurso - Stirling - Bridge of Allan - Perth - Inverness - Edinburgh - John O Groats

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In the south the road's importance has been eclipsed by (1) the A90 across the Forth Road Bridge and the M90 motorway, which now link Edinburgh more directly with Perth, bypassing Stirling and Bridge of Allan as formerly important bridge points, and (2) the M9, which is now the main road between Edinburgh and Bridge of Allan. Between Edinbugh and Falkirk much of the M9 is rebuilt, redesignated A9. Between Falkirk and Bridge of Allan the M9 is new road, and the A9 survives as a more or less parallel road.

Related Topics:
A90 - Forth Road Bridge - M90 motorway - Bridge - M9

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The 113 mile section between Bridge of Allan and Inverness, via Perth, was substantially rebuilt during the 1970s, 80s and early 90s, but it follows essentially the same route, except where it skirts towns and villages instead of running through their centres. Between Perth and Inverness the road has been dubbed the Killer, because of accidents and fatalities associated with the way dual-carriageway sections merge into single-carriageway, without adequate signage.

Related Topics:
Mile - 1970s - 80s - 90s - Dual-carriageway

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The M90 meets the A9 at Broxden Junction, on the outskirts of Perth. Broxton Junction is one of the busiest and most important road junctions in Scotland.

Related Topics:
Broxden Junction - Road junction

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In the north, beyond Inverness, the A9 designation has been transfered (1) in response to construction of new bridges across the Moray Firth (the Kessock Bridge), the Cromarty Firth and the Dornoch Firth, and (2) so that the A9 leads not to John O Groats but to Scrabster Harbour, Thurso, where a government-supported ferry service takes traffic to and from Stromness in Orkney. Therefore various towns and villages which were on the A9{{mn|afgh|1}} are now seriously distanced from this trunk road.

Related Topics:
Moray Firth - Kessock Bridge - Cromarty Firth - Dornoch Firth - Scrabster Harbour - Stromness - Orkney - Trunk road

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