Perth and Kinross Council is considering the installation of road safety measures on a rural road currently being used as a ‘rat run’ to avoid roadworks.
Local councillors and some residents in Almondbank are concerned at the number of vehicles using the Castle Brae road past Huntingtower Castle to Inveralmond Industrial Estate along with the C407 road through Almondbank, in order to avoid lengthy queues — up to one hour at the Easter weekend — caused by roadworks on the A9/A85 roads.
Local Councillor Henry Anderson said police are “on the ball” regarding motorists using the Castle Brae as a ‘rat run’ to enable them to reach the Inveralmond Industrial Estate.
Nevertheless, he feels it is time for traffic calming measures to be rolled out by the council.
“The measure would have to be put out to public consultation,” he said.
A spokesperson for Perth and Kinross Council confirmed the local authority is “considering” installing traffic signals on the Castle Brae road in order to reduce the carriageway to a single lane and provide space for a section of footway.
She said: “The council is committed to improving road safety across the region and additional funding has been made available to support this aim. Due to the proximity to Ruthvenfield Primary School, if, after consultation, the proposed works are considered to be a viable option they would be undertaken as part of the wider school travel planning programme.
“It should be noted that this project is only at the assessment stage and no commitment has been given.”
Meanwhile, an irate Almondbank resident hit out at what she stated was a “horrendous” situation caused by motorists — some apparently tourists — who have been travelling along the rural C407 road and into the village’s Main Street.
She claims most of these motorists are unaware that there are further roadworks at Lochty, on the A85 Crieff Road.
“Scores of vehicles are coming off the A9 at Luncarty and then proceeding past Pitcairngreen and into Almondbank, with some even undertaking — it’s absolutely horrendous,” she said.
“I don’t know why so many people are driving through Almondbank when signs clearly say the road at Lochty is closed, so you can’t get on to the A85 there.
“We see people — many looking at maps — stopping anywhere they can in the Main Street of Almondbank before they realise they can’t drive any further. You can tell they are tourists and can see their frustration when they find out this road leads to nowhere.”
Motorists had to suffer lengthy delays at the weekend due to the on-going roadworks, with some taking to social media to vent their anger at being held up for up to an hour between Broxden and Inveralmond roundabouts.
The roadworks are taking place to create the Cross Tay Link Road.
