After two years of extensive work, Scottish Water is drawing to a close its £23.2 million project to upgrade a half-kilometre section of sewer in the heart of Perth.

The vital infrastructure upgrade on Tay Street and Shore Road has seen the existing sewer replaced with a significantly larger 2.2-metre diameter pipe, boosting the capacity of the city's wastewater network.

This "super-sizing" initiative is designed to accommodate projected growth in Perth, better cope with extreme rainfall events exacerbated by climate change, and ultimately reduce the risk of sewer flooding for local communities.

Since May 2023, parts of Tay Street and Shore Road have experienced vehicle closures and traffic management to ensure the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and site workers. The "over-pumping" set-up, which involved overground pipes transporting wastewater flows during the new sewer connection, has now been removed. The project's focus will soon shift to reinstating the road, with full reopening to traffic anticipated by the end of June.

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Scottish Water is working in conjunction with Perth & Kinross Council to minimise disruption during the reinstatement phase. The local authority will take responsibility for the site next month when Scottish Water vacates.

David Lavery, Scottish Water's Senior Project Manager, who is overseeing this project alongside other essential water and wastewater infrastructure upgrades in the city totalling over £100 million, acknowledged the impact of the works. "There's been no mistaking the presence of Scottish Water in the heart of the city over the last two years as we've worked to futureproof Perth's vital waste water network," he said. "With work on this scale it's inevitable that there's been disruption, so I'd like to thank business owners, residents, customers, motorists and the wider public for their understanding while this major infrastructure upgrade has taken place."

Councillor Eric Drysdale, Perth and Kinross Council's Convener of Economy and Infrastructure, welcomed the completion. "This has been a very significant project for Scottish Water, addressing much needed improvement to the waste water network in Perth for the benefit of residents and businesses. This kind of work cannot be carried out without some level of interruption to normal day to day life, however the end result will I am sure be welcomed – protecting our communities and preparing the city for future development. I look forward to seeing Tay Street and Shore Road fully reopened in the near future."