There are fears that congestion at Perth’s Inveralmond Roundabout will last until 2027 after the council revealed the opening date for a link road through Bertha Park.
Perth and Kinross Council aims to complete the Bertha Park Link Road in June 2027 – more than two years after the Cross Tay Link Road (CTLR) opens in spring 2025.
Construction is expected to begin on the road between Bertha Park and the CTLR, near Luncarty, in November 2025.
This would follow a year-long tendering process to appoint a contractor.
It is hoped the bypass will alleviate the congestion expected at Inveralmond Roundabout once the CTLR is up and running.
However, until then, residents in Bertha Park will have to continue using Inveralmond to go north.
The timetable was revealed in a council planning application with more detail on the Bertha link.
Both schemes are part of the Perth Transport Futures masterplan.
The road was originally meant to be built by developer Springfield, but the council took charge of the scheme in 2023.
The council says the cost of building the road will be met by housing developer Springfield Properties.
Mixed reaction as Bertha Park link date revealed
Residents at the Bertha Park housing estate had mixed feelings on the road link.
Neil Honeyman does not mind the wait but wants the road built.
The 59-year-old said: “Inveralmond Roundabout is a nightmare.
“I’m looking forward to the road being built as it will be quicker for me going north.”
Another resident added: “Right now, I go through Inveralmond and when the schools finish you get caught for 15 minutes.
“The wait is annoying because we thought the new road was going to be open sooner and I go up the A9 frequently.”
A third resident said: “I work in Perth so if the road means less people will use the roundabout it will make things better.
“The wait (for the road) is a bit frustrating but that’s how it is.”
‘I don’t think it’s been thought through’
However, others fear the Bertha road will lead to more traffic in the area.
Mike Dewar, 72, said: “You’re taking all that traffic from Scone and putting it through here, Scone will be happy but I don’t think it’s been thought through.”
Another resident said: “The road will be going up beside the houses, and I don’t want the traffic there.
“There will be lorries going through here to miss the Inveralmond Roundabout.
“It’s meant to help traffic at Inveralmond but I’m not sure how that’s going to happen.”
Sebastian Hehn, 43, added: “Traffic around the area will be higher when the road is built.
“It will be good for going to Scone – driving through the city takes about 20 minutes just now.”
Fears Perth traffic will ‘get worse’
Carse of Gowrie councillor Alasdair Bailey said: “The people I talk to who regularly use the Inveralmond roundabout are worried that with the opening of the CTLR, the traffic there will get worse because there aren’t many other places for it to go.
“Plus we were told the CTLR will increase traffic in general around Perth so that’s of concern further away at Broxden too which already gets very busy.”
A Perth and Kinross Council spokesperson said: “Our roads infrastructure team and design consultants Sweco are working hard to ensure that phase three follows next year as soon as possible after phase two.
“They carried out public consultations in the summer regarding design of the new road to inform the design and help ensure it meets local needs.
“They will continue to update the public as the project progresses.”
Conversation