What connects freshwater pearl mussels in the Tay, the ecology of peat in Glen Garry and a cairn near Moy that marks the spot Hanoverian forces set out to try to capture Bonnie Prince Charlie?
The answer is they’ve all come under scrutiny from experts working with the engineering team that is masterminding the dualling of 11 sections of the A9.
Work on the first of these sections, Kincraig to Dalraddy, has begun and the next section, Luncarty to the Pass of Birnam, is set to get underway later this year.
But driving new stretches of road through some of the most beautiful parts of Scotland, often filled with historic sites and areas of environmental importance, is no straightforward undertaking.
That’s why the project has called on the expertise of, among others, soil specialists and aquatic ecologists, to help determine what impact engineering works will have.
At s1jobs you can find vacancies in all areas of construction, from housing and commercial sectors, but also in major infrastructure projects such as the A9 upgrade. It will take years to complete the remodelling of this road but when completed travel times between Inverness and central Scotland should be reduced and, most importantly, the shocking toll of accidents that have long plagued this route should be a thing of the past.
Meanwhile one of the biggest projects of recent years, the spectacular Queensferry Crossing, is set to open to vehicles and soon work will get underway on transforming Queen Street Station into a sparkling new transport hub for the 21st century.
The electrification of the main Glasgow to Edinburgh railway line continues apace.
All of this means Scotland is being modernised, spruced up and set on track for the century ahead and, if you work in construction, you can be part of this monumental change, creating the landmarks that will pay dividends for generations.
For example, 1750 members of staff are settling into the Scottish Power headquarters building in Glasgow’s St Vincent Street, now the biggest single-occupancy building in Scotland.
It is also a building that’s achieved the highest possible rating for energy efficiency and, by the very fact that it has been built in the heart of the city, has cut car usage and seen a sharp uptake in bike commuting among staff.
It just goes to show, from roads to offices, construction and environmental improvements really can go hand in hand.
For the latest exciting, eco-friendly Construction vacancies visit s1jobs.