Archaeological dig starts in advance of Cross Tay Link Road
Archaeology students from the the University of the Highlands and Islands at Perth College will get the chance to uncover some Bronze Ages treasures in advance of work starting on the new Cross Tay Link Road.
Four archaeology sites with evidence dating back to the Bronze Age have been identified. Work on uncovering their secrets starts this month in partnership with site investigators GUARD Archaeology Ltd.
The dig is part of site preparation works in advance of the main construction work for the Cross Tay Link Road in Summer 2022.
The £118 million Cross Tay Link Road will create a new bridge over the River Tay just north of the Inveralmond Roundabout and a six kilometre stretch of new road linking the A9 and the A94 just north of Scone. The new road will significantly reduce traffic congestion and related pollution in Perth city centre.
Councillor Murray Lyle, Leader of Perth & Kinross Council, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for students to work on a live project to advance and support their studies. As part of the Council’s commitment to achieve social value from the spending power we have, the Cross Tay Link Road will deliver more than just a new road. These Perth College UHI students are an early example of the kinds of ways in which the people of Perth and Kinross can get involved in this project.
“Over the next few months we will also be announcing dates for meet the contractor events, which will give opportunities for local businesses within this major project.”
Main contractor BAM Nuttall said there would be wide and varied opportunities for local businesses to get involved in the project.
“We will be encouraging local contractors to come along to these events to see what opportunities there will be to get involved with the project as it progresses. There will be sub-contractor, service provision and material supply requirements and we are very keen to get as much local input as possible to maximise economic benefits in the immediate area throughout the construction phase,” said BAM Nuttall’s Project Director, William Diver.
Perth College UHI quote about opportunity for students
More information about the Cross Tay Link Road, which is due for completion in 2024, can be found at https://perthtransportfutures.co.uk/
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Notes to editors
The Cross Tay Link Road forms Phase 2 of the Perth Transport Futures Project, which has already successfully delivered Phase 1, the A9/A85 junction improvement and link road to Bertha Park. This new phase will unlock key development land to the north of the city, as well as re-directing unnecessary traffic from the city centre reducing congestion and pollution.
BAM Nuttall was appointed by the Council in August 2021 as main contractor for the scheme. The main construction works will begin in summer 2022.
Meet the contractor events are being planned to give opportunities for local businesses within this major project. These are likely to take place in Spring 2022.
The archaeological works need to take place before construction can begin, taking place in localised areas along the proposed route of the link road between January and June 2022.