Cycle project cash could see Motor Mile transformed

Funding award of £6.45m secured for redesign of Dunkeld Road

Perth’s Motor Mile will be dramatically transformed as part of a highly ambitious travel plan.

Council chiefs have secured £6.45 million of Scottish Government cash for a radical redesign of Dunkeld Road.

The entire stretch, from Balhousie to Inveralmond, will be upgraded into a shared thoroughfare for cars, cyclists and pedestrians.

Transport Secretary Michael Matheson confirmed the funding award, which is part of a Sustrans Scotland and Transport Scotland design contest, at a gathering in Perth.

Council leader Murray Lyle described the scheme as the start of a “transformation” for Perth.

Following concern about “shared space” developments from sight-loss groups, Mr Lyle stressed that the public would get a chance to shape the proposals before a planning application is submitted.

Perth’s Motor Mile will be radically transformed into a top destination for walkers and cyclists.

Council chiefs have secured more than £6 million of Sustrans cash to dramatically redesign Dunkeld Road, one of the city’s busiest thoroughfares.

The entire 1.2-mile stretch, from the Balhousie roundabout to the edge of the A9, will be upgraded, with sections of the dual carriageway made into a “fully segregated cycle lane”.

Transport Secretary Michael Matheson was in the city yesterday to announce that the council had won a share of £60 million as part of Sustrans and Transport Scotland’s flagship Places For Everyone programme.

At the launch of the new National Transport Strategy for Scotland at the AK Bell Library, he said designs for Dunkeld Road were among the most ambitious he had seen.

Angus Council will also receive nearly £7m to transform the A92 in Arbroath.

Perth’s £6.45m project aims to make it safer for children walking to a planned new primary school at North Muirton, while improving links between Bertha Park, Inveralmond and the city centre.

A new bridge will be created to connect to an existing cycle network.

Concerns have already been raised about the project by sight-loss charities who had complained about accessibility problems at a new “shared space” zone in the city’s Mill Street.

Council leader Murray Lyle pledged that all members of the community will get the chance to help shape the project before an application is submitted.

He said: “This funding will go towards facilitating a major change for Dunkeld Road that will benefit not only walking and cycling, but also the community, as we aim to improve air quality.

“Our plans for improving sustainable and active travel in the city are ambitious and, as with everything, you have to start somewhere.”

It is thought the project is the first part of an ambitious new network of walking and cycling routes across Perth, with about £20m of further work planned at places including Bridgend and Glasgow Road.

Grace Martin, director at Sustrans Scotland, added: “We are extremely excited and encouraged by the projects chosen to receive funding this year and we look forward to working in partnership with Perth and Kinross to help make Perth more accessible.”

Our plans for improving sustainable and active travel in the city are ambitious and, as with everything, you have to start somewhere. COUNCIL LEADER MURRAY LYLE

An artist’s impression how Dunkeld Road could look, above and top right.

Picture: Wullie Marr Photography. Clockwise, from second from top: Examples of how Arbroath could be transformed as part of Places For Everyone funding; Grace Martin, director Sustrans, with Mike Morgan, representing the Perth project; Transport Secretary Michael Matheson visited Perth to mark the launch of the consultation; Mr Matheson chats to children about cycling.