Hopes for third Tay crossing to improve quality of life in Perth Development aims to ease congestion and improve air quality in the city

Stunning images reveal the new Tay crossing council leaders hope will make a huge difference to quality of life in Perth.

The graphics – though not wholly representative of the landscape – offer an insight into the scale of the scheme.

Phase two of the Perth Transport Futures Project will include the realignment of a section of the A9 trunk road and the provision of a new bridge across the River Tay and railway line.

It will also see the creation of a new grade separated junction on the A9 and a new 6km link road connecting the A9 with the A93 and A94.

The project will create a third crossing over the River Tay, which will enable the local authority to fulfil the aims of its development plan, improve air quality within the city and reduce congestion.

It is being delivered by the council at a cost of £113 million. Two further phases will follow.

Councillor Colin Stewart, convener of the council’s environment, enterprise and infrastructure committee, said: “I am pleased that we have reached another milestone in this significant project for Perth and Kinross.

“Phase two will see the creation of a much needed third bridge over the River Tay which will help to take the pressure off the city infrastructure and improve traffic movement and air quality.”

Design of the Cross Tay Link Road is due to be completed in mid-2019, with a planning application submitted later that year.

If approved, construction would then begin in 2021 with the structure expected to be complete in 2023.

Meanwhile, further details of the work that engineering, environment and design consultancy Sweco UK will carry out as part of a £3.5 million contract have been unveiled.

The firm will be responsible for infrastructure design, site investigations, drainage and flood assessments, public utility liaison and design, as well as environmental impact, archaeological and ecological studies.

Sweco – whose Glasgow and Edinburgh offices will join up the project – has experience of delivering similar City Deal transport infrastructure projects helping to shape the cities of the future.

“Phase two will see the creation of a much needed third bridge over the River Tay which will help to take the pressure off the city infrastructure. COUNCILLOR COLIN STEWART

New graphics have given an insight into how the bridge could look.