Work on a controversial road that will run through part of the grounds of Perth Crematorium and is regarded as being vital to a massive housing development for the city will begin later this year.
Perth and Kinross Council has confirmed construction of the crematorium link road beside McDiarmid Park will start in October.
The road is due to open in March 2019.
The link and a new A9/ A85 junction are part of the first phase of the Perth Transport Futures Project.
The council is awaiting correspondence from Scottish Ministers regarding a series of compulsory purchase orders.
A council spokesperson said the authority expects confirmation of the land purchases towards the end of this month or early April.
The new road is regarded as being essential for the development of the planned £1 billion Bertha Park development.
It would see around 3,000 homes, three schools, a care home and retail units built on land to the north west of Perth over a 30-year period.
Perth and Kinross Council also claims the project will open up development land at potential housing developments at Almond Valley and Perth West.
It could also relieve present and future traffic congestion in the A85 Crieff Road corridor.
The council spokesperson stated the local authority anticipate land vesting ownership of the land required for the scheme around August, and provided details of the design for the new boundary to be built at Perth Crematorium.
She said: “The timing of the boundary works in the vicinity of the crematorium will be contained within the contractor’s programme. However, it is anticipated that the works will take place on this after April 2017, at the same time as the crematorium refurbishment works, to minimise disruption.”