One of the biggest issues hanging over the Scottish Government since the SNP came to power in 2007 has been the dualling of the A9 road.

Plans were laid out over a decade ago to make the road a dual carriageway from Perth to Inverness, but it has been hit by problems under various administrations.

Initially due to be completed next year, the works are now not expected to be done until 2035.

On Friday a new report into the delay was released, highlighting potential future issues with the revised date.

Here's what you need to know.

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Why does the Scottish Government plan to dual the A9?

It's been dubbed Scotland's most dangerous road, with an average of 5.4 deaths per year between 2011 and 2022.

There are twice as many deaths on the single carriageway section of the road compared to sections which have already been dualled.

So far two sections totalling 11 miles have been upgraded, with 77 miles still to be done.

What has happened so far?

Alex Salmond's government announced in 2011 that the road would be dual carriageway for its entire length between Perth and Inverness by 2025.

However, in 2023 the Scottish Government was forced to admit that would not be feasible.

A revised target of 2035 was set, and following a petition by Laura Hansler a committee was set up to investigate why the deadline had been missed.

Who did the committee hear evidence from?

Among others, the Scottish Government committee took evidence from Transport Scotland, several transport secretaries and both Mr Salmond and his successor as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

It was led by the Conservative MSP Jackson Carlaw.

What did it find?

The report, released today, states that disputes over funding "significantly contributed" to the failure to meet the 2025 target.

Transport Scotland showed that issues were repeatedly raised over the course of several years pointing to the likelihood that the deadline would be unachievable.

The committee said that it was "unclear" where the dualling project sat within Transport Scotland's wider portfolio.

It further concluded that there could have been more openness with the public about the challenges the project was facing.

What has been said?

Scottish Conservative shadow transport secretary Sue Webber MSP said: “This damning report confirms that more than 13 years on and after spending £300 million, the SNP still don’t have a coherent plan to dual this lifeline road.

“The blame for this lies squarely with successive incompetent nationalist transport ministers who have promised upgrades to the deadly A9 for years but in true SNP style have failed to deliver for rural Scots.

“The A9 is the backbone of Scotland, and every day that these essential upgrades are delayed, more lives are put at risk and costs continue to skyrocket.

“Rural communities and businesses across Scotland need action from this SNP government and they must finally fully dual the A9 between Perth and Inverness.”

Ms Sturgeon has already apologised on behalf of the Scottish Government for the failure to meet the target.

She said in her evidence: "I am sorry we haven't dualled the A9 and I regret that and I think people in the Highlands have every right to feel the way they do.

"Not just because it is a target that was set and not met, but the nature of the project and the reasons for the commitment to deliver the A9 were so serious in terms of safety.

"I am not sitting here saying we messed up because we didn't bother trying to do this.

"I am sorry a whole range of circumstances, many beyond our control, meant we weren't able to deliver on that target."

The late Mr Salmond, who was First Minister when the pledge was made to dual the road by 2025 said his cabinet had regarded the target as "challenging but achievable".

The Alba Party leader, who died in North Macedonia last month, said completing the project was "a matter of principle, a matter of integrity and a matter of honour".