The price of Dundee’s planned new stadium development could soar to well over £20 million due to access requirements.
But while original estimates of the cost to build “Nou Campy” are understood to have been between £15m and £18m, the Dark Blues will plough ahead with the project they hope to complete by 2020.
A site between Camperdown Park and the city’s Ice Arena has been earmarked for the state-of-the-art facility that would include training pitches, a retail park and housing development.
The fact it’s also adjacent to the Kingsway, however, means close scrutiny is being paid to how it would be accessed.
Transport Scotland, the body responsible for the country’s trunk roads, require certain conditions to be met before they’ll give their blessing.
Best case scenario would be for a new slip road to be included, meaning costs could be kept to a minimum.
The stumbling block with that would be traffic only being able to enter and exit on the northbound carriageway of the A90.
If that meant a new junction had to be constructed to allow access for south-bound vehicles, the increase in cost would run well into seven figures.
Talks between the club and Transport Scotland have already taken place but the authority will only give their verdict once they’ve received detailed proposals.
“Road safety is of paramount importance for everyone that will use the stadium, the associated commercial developments and the wider road network,” said a spokesman.
“We’re working with the developer to get absolute clarity on their proposals and the potential impact on issues like vehicle access to and from the site. We have asked the developer’s consultant to carry out an appraisal of all available access options for the site. Once this is completed, we will offer our opinion on the proposals.”
With £1.2m being spent to buy the land and having identified the move as vital to a successful future, Dundee remain determined to push forward.
They’ve never put a figure on the cost of the development and declined to comment.
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