Hundreds of Perth residents have signed a petition urging the council to install traffic lights on one of the city’s busiest roads.
Councillors received a petition on Monday from the Dundee Road Group, whose members are concerned their stretch of street has inadequate pedestrian crossing provision.
The community campaign group is calling on Perth and Kinross Council to build a crossing on Dundee Road, between Fairmount Road and Island View.
Locals are worried pedestrians including pupils at neighbouring schools including Balnacraig and Kinnoull Primary are having to cross the busy stretch unassisted.
Recent road surveys showed 14,000 vehicles per day travel along Dundee Road, and more than 50% of those did so at more than the 30 mph speed limit.
Dr Jim Young, who organised the petition, said the four councillors from the Perth city centre ward supported the proposals to install traffic lights on the street.
“Local children walking to the nearby schools are walking along Dundee Road every day,” he said.
“We are requesting the council install a traffic light pedestrian crossing close to the railway bridge and the Rodney Gardens path, but between Island View and Fairmount Road. We leave it to the professionals at the council’s road department to decide where they would go.”
Labour councillor Archie MacLellan said: “There is an urgent need for a crossing to be installed on that area of Dundee Road. There is a high volume of traffic which travels on Dundee Road, and it is a dangerous area.
“There is little prospect traffic levels will reduce on the road until the new bridge is built.
“The council are in discussions with the Scottish Government and work has begun on the surrounding roads but it looks like it will be 2021 by the time a new bridge across the Tay has been built.”
Lib Dem councillor Peter Barrett said : “Local residents have voiced concerns about the unique hazards that are found on Dundee Road. At the morning rush hour more than half of the cars heading out of town are speeding in excess of 30mph.
“At the same time city bound traffic forms a solid stationary or slow moving barrier to pedestrians trying to cross. Dundee Road is the only main arterial route which doesn’t have a pedestrian crossing for a distance of three quarters of a mile.
“The first pedestrian crossing is at the Perth Bridge. There are a growing number of school children in the neighbourhood for whom a crossing would open up a safer and less polluted route to school through Hillside and the Bellwood Park.
“All of the city centre councillors are in full support of the Dundee Road Group’s campaign to improve road safety and the installation of a pedestrian crossing which will benefit local residents and visitors to Branklyn Gardens.”
