WORK STARTS ON NEW ROAD
Delight as long-awaited project begins
Spirits were high amongst council bosses yesterday at an official ground breaking ceremony to mark the longawaited start of construction work on the new A9/A85 junction upgrade and link road to Bertha Park.
The multi-million pound scheme will see a grade separated interchange introduced between the A9 and the A85 and the creation of a link road between the new interchange and Bertha Park, where Springfield Properties has planning permission to build thousands of new homes.
In addition, two new roads connecting the A85 to the new interchange will be created over the next three years, along with a roundabout on Ruthvenfield Road, a bridge over the River Almond and a footbridge over the A9 linking Tulloch to Inveralmond Industrial Estate.
Council leader Ian Miller attended yesterday’s ground-breaking ceremony along with assorted SNP councillors, several local authority bosses including the chief executive Bernadette Malone, and senior staff from construction company Balfour Beatty, who were awarded the £35m contract for the project.
The scheme represents phase one of the council’s ambitious Perth Transport Futures Project which will ultimately include the development of the new Cross Tay Link Road which will further enhance the transport network in and around Perth.
Councillor Miller said yesterday: “Today is an important milestone in the development of Perth’s ambitions to allow the economic and physical growth of the city.
“This is a hugely significant project, which will bring benefits for both local and through traffic, improve air quality in the city, and unlock land for business and housing development.
“We have already seen Rossco Properties seize the potential this new road network will bring, developing proposals for a multi-million pound expansion of the Inveralmond Trade Park. This support from a well-respected local company demonstrates the value investment in the surrounding road infrastructure has for the city.
“The importance of this scheme for Perth cannot be underestimated.
“It is essential to the economic growth and vibrancy of the city, and wider region, and is fundamental to our ambition for Perth as one of the great small cities of Europe.”
Hector MacAulay, Balfour Beatty’s regional managing director, added: “We are pleased to get construction underway on this significant scheme to support the economic development of Perth and to be working with local businesses to provide further benefits for the local economy.
“Our early collaboration with the council on its design, coupled with our vast experience in delivering major highway infrastructure schemes, will support the efficient delivery of this project.”
The works are due for completion in Spring 2019.
The Scottish Government is also funding a new secondary school at Bertha Park.
Victoria Brambini (managing director, Scape Procure), Councillor Ian Miller (leader of Perth and Kinross Council) and Hector Macaulay (Balfour Beatty regional managing director, Scotland) during yesterday’s ceremony Hector Macaulay (left) and Councillor Ian Miller during the ground breaking ceremony at the construction site on Ruthvenfield Road