Balfour Beatty has started work on a £35 million transport infrastructure project in Perth.

The scheme involves building a new A9/A85 junction and link road to Bertha Park in the west of the city. The development is due to be completed in Spring 2019.

Phase 1 of the Perth Transport Futures Project, which has been developed by the Council's Roads Infrastructure Team and designed by consultants CH2M, includes:

• A grade separated interchange between the A9 and the A85

• A link road between the new interchange and the Bertha Park development site

• Two new roads connecting the A85 to the new interchange

• A roundabout on Ruthvenfield Road

• A bridge over the River Almond

• A footbridge over the A9 linking Tulloch to Inveralmond Industrial Estate

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• A culvert for Perth Lade under the A9

• Access to the  new secondary school at Bertha Park

The scheme will ultimately include the development of the Cross Tay Link Road, which will further enhance the transport network in and around Perth.

Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony on Friday, 04 November, Council Leader Ian Miller said: "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."

Hector MacAulay, Balfour Beatty Regional Managing Director for Scotland, 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."

(LM/MH)