A multi-million-pound relief road, which unlocks swathes of development land on the edge of Perth, has been officially opened.
The congestion-busting project offers access to the £1 billion Bertha Park site and aims to address air quality issues in the city centre.
Around 3,000 homes are being built on land to the north of Inveralmond, where work is well under way on a new 1,100-capacity secondary school.
The new route will link the area with Ruthvenfield Road.
An A9 southbound offslip is also due to open on Friday, giving drivers an easier connection to the A85.
Its northbound counterpart will be completed in August.
Meanwhile, a new grade-separated junction between the A9 and A85, and other infrastructure including a new A9 footbridge, are also being built as part of phase one of the Perth Transport Futures Project. They are due to be finished in spring next year, providing additional access to the Inveralmond Industrial Estate.
Council leader Murray Lyle, who launched the new road in a ceremony on Tuesday morning, said: “This is an important milestone for Perth’s long term growth and expansion.
“Perth and Kinross is amongst the fastest growing areas in Scotland in terms of population, and planning for house building and infrastructure to support this growth has been crucial.”
Hector MacAulay, managing director of lead construction firm Balfour Beatty, said: “I am delighted with the progress made to date on this project, with completion of this major milestone to programme and budget.
“We have been working in close collaboration with Perth and Kinross Council to deliver this strategically important infrastructure and are now providing early assistance to the phase two Cross Tay Link Road.”
The Perth Transport Futures Project has four phases.
During phase three — which will follow the Cross Tay Link Road — Bertha Park will be connected to the A9 using a new link road.
The final stage involves a range of a traffic management measures aimed at encouraging walking, cycling and use of public transport.
