New £1.4 million contract will clear way for Tay crossing work

Council chiefs have struck a £1.4 million deal for work which could pave the way for a new Tay crossing.

Balfour Beatty has been awarded the contract for ground investigation at the site earmarked for the new bridge. The survey will help crews drawing up designs for the £113m structure.

A Perth and Kinross Council spokesman said: “A ground investigation is required to establish the existing ground conditions in the location of the Cross Tay Link Road and allow the design to progress.

“This is also on the critical path of the project programme, as the information from this investigation is required to inform the land purchase boundary.”

Balfour Beatty started work on a massive overhaul of Perth’s roads network last year.

Phase two of the Perth Transport Futures Project includes 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 involve the creation of a new grade separated junction on the A9 and a new 6km link road connecting the A9 with the A 93 and A 94.

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.

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

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