MOTORISTS have been warned to expect up to two years of delays as roadworks get underway to dual a new section of the A9.
Transport Scotland says there will be a 40mph speed limit imposed on an almost 6-mile stretch of the road between Luncarty and Birnam in Petrth and Kinross until spring 2021, enforced by temporary safety cameras.
Work will begin on Monday 4th February to install safety barriers and traffic management schemes to narrow lanes, with operations being carried out overnight between 7.20pm and 6.30am.
Map: Transport Scotland
Complete overnight closures will be put in place from Friday 22nd to Monday 25th February 20:30 to 06:00 each night, with vehicles diverted northwards via the A85 / A826 / A827.
This will continue for two weeks, and is likely to affect overnight journeys and deliveries to Inverness, with some drivers fearing 60 minutes could be added to journeys. Transport Scotland is urging road users to allow extra time for their journey.
READ MORE: Man killed in Christmas Day crash on A9 near Perth
The A9 is one of Scotland's major traffic arteries
Efforts will then turn to the full dualling scheme, which will be undertaken beside the A9 with one lane of traffic still moving in each direction
Signed diversions will be put in place via the A85 for northbound traffic and via the A923 Dunkeld junction for southbound traffic.
Access for residents living in Luncarty, Bankfoot and Stanley will be maintained throughout the four-night shut down via a local road.
Gemma Montrose, project manager for Transport Scotland, said: “These traffic restrictions are a tried and tested approach that improve safety for road users and construction workers during what will be an extremely busy construction period.
“Our contractor anticipates approximately four minutes delay through the 40mph traffic management area and we’ll be working closely with Balfour Beatty to ensure disruption to road users and the local community is monitored throughout the works and is kept to a minimum during the construction phase.
“Road safety is our first priority and we would like to take this opportunity to thank road users for their patience while we deliver these significant improvement works to dual the A9.”
READ MORE: Free Church ministers call for A9 upgrade'as matter of urgency'
Much of the A9 is limited to single lanes
Inspector Davie Hynd from Police Scotland said: “The reduced speed limit is necessary to ensure that drivers are able to cope safely with the inevitable effects of the roadworks such as narrowed lanes contraflows and construction traffic.
"We would encourage road users to plan their journey in advance and leave extra time to travel through the works area.”
The A9 Dualling project is one of Scotland's largest ever transport infrastructure programmes. At a cost of some £3bn, the 11-stage scheme aims to upgrade 80 miles of single carriageway between Perth and Inverness.
Once the work is completed on the latest stretch, motorists will be able to drive on around 9 miles of continuous dualled carriageway from Inveralmond roundabout in Perth to the Pass of Birnam.
Previously, project manager Jo Blewett said: "The A9 passes through areas that are breathtaking and hugely important in terms of wildlife and landscape - not to mention people's homes. We are dealing with internationally environmentally designated sites; rock cuttings; building new bridges and widening existing major bridges; public utilities; dealing with the close proximity of the Highland Mainline Railway; and there are currently over 100 junctions that must be incorporated to provide access to adjacent property and communities.
"Some very complex and demanding challenges lie ahead but, given our track record on other major projects, we are confident of delivery on time and on budget."
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