Perth motorists are being warned to expect delays due to major roadworks set to last more than three months.
Transport Scotland is spending £600,000 on phase two of work on the A85 Crieff Road bridge. Phase one was completed last year.
The roadworks will crank up on Monday after advance work began on Wednesday and will be undertaken by BEAR Scotland, with the southbound slip-road being closed and traffic diverted via the Inveralmond roundabout.
The northbound on-slip will remain open and temporary traffic lights will be in operation on the roundabout at the top of the A9 slip roads.
Reduced speed limits will be in place for the duration of the works, which will last 14 weeks.
Kenny Simpson, chairman of Methven and District Community Council, told The Courier of his concern that the lengthy roadworks will lead to “chaos” for motorists.
And Roseanna Cunningham, MSP for Perthshire South and Kinross-shire, added: “There is no doubt that these works will be a bit of a nuisance for those like me who travel between Crieff and Perth on a regular basis.
“I have been assured by BEAR Scotland that, other than at peak times, the diversions and other measures should not add significantly to journey times but the work being carried out is important and we will have to be patient and trust that the inconvenience will be over as quickly as practically possible.”
A spokesman for Perth and Kinross Council said that “motorists are being urged to pay attention” to the diversion signs and drive carefully on the diversion route.
“The diversions and temporary traffic management may lead to delays on local roads around the Broxden and Inveralmond and Newhouse/Crieff Road roundabouts,” he said.
A letter issued to residents living in the vicinity of the roadworks was sent by Michael Chan, north-east bridges manager with BEAR Scotland.
He revealed that the works will repair and “substantially” modify the central pier from below the bridge deck.
“Unfortunately, the design of the phase two works have proved more intricate and problematic than originally anticipated,” he said in the letter.
“Additional mitigation measures have had to be employed to provide a viable solution and, consequently, have taken longer than expected.”
BEAR Scotland has set up a dedicated Twitter account where people can receive updates about the works. It is at @A9CrieffRdBrig