Roadworks are planned

£500,000 major resurfacing project

Drivers travelling through Strathearn are set for delays and disruption throughout September.

Over £500,000 worth of resurfacing works are planned for three sections of the A85 between Comrie and St Fillans.

Starting next week, the trunk road will be resurfaced and new road markings will be laid, which BEAR Scotland says will create a smoother and safer journey.

The first phase of the works will start on Monday (September 3) on the A85 east of St Fillans.

Until Friday, September 14 there will be a 10mph convoy system in place between the hours of 7am and 7pm over a kilometre stretch of the road.

The road will be open as normal outwith the working hours, and on the weekends.

Following on from this, phase two will start on Sunday, September 16 and last until Thursday, September 20 on the A85 in Comrie.

Starting from close to Comrie Fish and Chip Shop, a 740 metre stretch of the A95 through the village will be resurfaced overnight from 7pm until 7am.

During the first four nights of the work, a 10mph convoy will be in place, meaning the road can stay open throughout the night.

However, from Thursday, September 20 the works move to a tight bend in the road at the chippie, so an overnight closure will be required.

‘Amnesty periods’ will be available for motorists at approximately 10pm, midnight, 2am and 4am for traffic to travel through the works.

Emergency access will be maintained throughout the works, and BEAR Scotland say efforts will be made to restrict noise during the works.

And finally, the A85 west of Comrie to Tullybanocher will see roadworks from Sunday, September 23 until Thursday, October 4.

From 7pm until 7am, a kilometre long section of the road will be resurfaced over night (except Fridays and Saturdays).

An overnight road closure will be in place to keep workers safe, and again traffic will only be allowed to pass through at 10pm, midnight, 2am and 4am.

Eddie Ross, BEAR Scotland’s northwest representative, said: “These road improvements will allow us to improve the general condition of the A85 at these locations between Comrie and St Fillans, helping safety on the route.

“We’ve taken steps to minimise disruption as much as possible during the project, including scheduling the works to take place overnight where we can and working to keep the road open through Comrie village as much as possible where the widths allow us to do so safely.

“Where the road is too narrow to safely keep the route open, we’ve programmed operations to allow amnesties to escort any waiting vehicles through the traffic where possible.

“All residents have been notified of the project in advance and we’ve consulted with all relevant stakeholders to inform them of the work and make them aware of any traffic management arrangements.

“Our teams will do all they can to complete these works as quickly and safely as possible, and we thank all road users and the local community for their patience in advance while we complete the improvements.

“We encourage road users to plan ahead by checking the Traffic Scotland website for journey information and allow some extra time to reach their destination.”