MOTORISTS IN Perth face traffic snarl-ups while essential work is carried out on the historic Perth Bridge.

To minimise the misery the council is restricting the three-week programme to between 9.15 am-3.45 pm, Monday to Friday.

The work will get under way a week today and the traffic order will be to prohibit all vehicles travelling eastwards on the bridge from its junction with Charlotte Street to its junction with Main Street.

Pedestrian and vehicular access to premises will be maintained and the alternative routes for vehicles is via Tay Street—Queens Bridge—Dundee Road—Gowrie Street.

Perth Bridge, which opened in 1771, was built by John Smeaton at a cost of £26,000.

It replaced a ferry, which had been in use for over 100 years after a flood swept away the previous bridge. It was widened in 1869.