New £150m Tay crossing opens after years of planning

The council said the new route should ease traffic congestion and pave the way for thousands of jobs

A £150m road crossing over the River Tay has officially opened after years of planning and construction.

The Cross Tay Link Road runs from west of the A9 and joins with the A93 and A94 north of Scone.

A report previously prepared for Perth and Kinross Council said it would pave the way for thousands of new jobs and relieve traffic congestion.

The project centres around Destiny Bridge – a three-span structure crossing the River Tay - and the New Kingsway - a 6km (3.7 miles) stretch of new carriageway. It also includes 2km (1.2 miles) of realigned dual carriageway on the A9 just north of Inveralmond roundabout.

The preferred route was approved by councillors in 2016 with planning permission granted three years later.

Olympic medallist Eilidh Doyle, who comes from the area, led a parade of local people including joggers, wheelchair users and cyclists to commemorate the new 12km (7.4 miles) active travel path network which also opened as part of the project.

The path network incorporates a green bridge to separate people and wildlife from the road.

The opening ceremony was led by First Minister John Swinney and Perth and Kinross Council leader Grant Laing.

The bridge was officially opened on Monday afternoon

The project has been funded by Scottish government via a £40m contribution to Perth & Kinross Council, with the balance coming from the local authority itself.

John Swinney said: "The completion of the New Kingsway and Destiny Bridge is a significant milestone for Perth, and I have no doubt that it will be transformative for the area and bring enormous benefits to all who use it.

"Reducing traffic volumes in the city centre will make journey times quicker, while also helping to reduce pollution, improve air quality, and free up road space for improved public transport."

He said the Scottish government's £40m investment was in addition to the £150m the Scottish government had already committed to the Tay Cities Region Deal, which is expected to create 6,000 jobs and bring a further £400m of investment into the region.

"This project showcases exactly how, with the right investment and strong partnerships, we will continue to deliver on my priorities of growing the economy, improving public services and protecting the planet," Swinney said.

'Momentous achievement'

A report to the council had highlighted "increasing concern" about traffic congestion and air quality issues in and around Perth over the past 20 years.

It said that every £1 of capital invested in the Cross Tay Link Road would generate an estimated £4.30 of revenue.

It also said it could lead to £966m of private sector investment via new housing and employment.

Councillor Laing said: "As the largest infrastructure project ever undertaken by Perth and Kinross Council, the opening of Destiny Bridge and the New Kingsway marks a momentous achievement for all involved.

"I would like to offer thanks to the project team for their hard work and dedication; and to residents, particularly those in Stormontfield, Scone and Luncarty, for their patience and understanding during the build."

He added: "As well as positively impacting on the environment and economy, during construction the project has created job opportunities and tackled local skills shortages through a robust outreach and training programme.

"It has also assisted in, and generated, several legacy projects including the Denmarkfield Allotments and Community Orchards, the new active travel path network and the cmmunity artwork project, all of which will bring enjoyment and health benefits for our Perth and Kinross residents for many years to come."