Residents and commuters across Perth and Kinross are facing significant travel challenges next month, as a trio of major road maintenance projects on the A90 and M90 motorways are set to coincide. The overlap, anticipated to cause considerable disruption, will particularly impact journeys between Perth, Dundee, and areas further south.
For a critical two-week period, from October 5 to October 20, drivers navigating these key routes will encounter simultaneous works. This means that anyone travelling from Perth towards Dundee, or making longer journeys that traverse the M90 south of Perth, will likely experience multiple bottlenecks on a single trip. The timing is particularly noteworthy as it falls within the school holiday period, traditionally a time when roads see increased family travel and tourism traffic, amplifying the potential for extended delays. Impact on Local Journeys and Businesses
Local businesses, especially those in sectors like logistics, delivery, and tourism, are expressing concern about the impending congestion. A local courier business owner, who opted to remain anonymous, highlighted the severe implications for operational timings and delivery schedules. “The overlapping works on the A90 Kingsway in Dundee and the A90 at Rait are going to be terrible,” the owner stated. “It’s going to mess with a lot of the timings that drivers have to stick to and will have an impact on pick-ups too.”
He further elaborated on existing difficulties: “It’s bad enough getting through the roadworks between Dundee and Perth at the moment, and we all know how bad the Kingsway is at the best of times.” The added pressure during school holidays, when traffic tends to be heavier during daylight hours, is considered “less than ideal” and is expected to affect a broader range of the community than initially anticipated. Detailed Breakdown of the Road Projects
The three major projects contributing to this period of heightened disruption are: A90 Kingsway Resurfacing (Dundee)
From October 5 to October 20, extensive resurfacing will take place on the A90 Kingsway, specifically between the A923 Coupar Angus off-slip and Strathmartine Road. This essential work will involve a contraflow system throughout its duration, alongside the closure of several slip roads. Transport Scotland’s operating company, Amey, indicates that this £1.5 million project has been strategically scheduled during the school holidays to mitigate the overall impact on daily commuters, though local sentiment suggests otherwise. A90 Safety Improvements (Dundee to Perth at Rait)
Ongoing since August, vital road safety improvements are being carried out on the A90 central reservation from the Rait junction to Middlebank Farm. This project, which has already caused notable congestion at various times, is scheduled to conclude on October 31. The overlap between this work and the Kingsway resurfacing means a significant stretch of the main arterial route between Perth and Dundee will be under restriction. Residents of nearby Kilspindie have previously voiced their frustration, reporting that traffic has been “bombarding” their village as drivers seek alternative routes to bypass the A90 works. Amey has confirmed that these particular works are “progressing as planned.” M90 Roadworks (South of Perth, near Glenfarg)
Adding a third layer to the complexity, the M90 near Glenfarg, situated south of Bridge of Earn, commenced three months of closures and speed restrictions today, September 23. Initially, overnight lane closures will be in effect until October 26. Following this, all-day lane closures will be imposed until December 16. The simultaneous nature of these works means that drivers travelling from Perth and Kinross towards Edinburgh or Fife will also encounter significant delays, particularly during the October 5-20 overlap period when all three projects are active. Official Response and Outlook
Addressing the concerns raised by the public and local businesses, Amey issued a statement indicating that their roadworks planning guidelines suggest a 5km buffer between work sites as sufficient for traffic management. A spokesperson for Amey elaborated: “It is recognised that the Kingsway works are likely to cause some journey time delays and these have been planned during the school holiday period when historically volumes are reduced from normal daily use.”
Furthermore, Amey emphasized proactive communication: “We are also undertaking advance notification to road users so that they may leave additional time for journeys or take alternative routes.” They acknowledged the anticipated disruption but underscored the broader benefits: “While there is anticipated to be an element of disruption as a consequence of the works, this programme represents a significant investment in the area and is essential to provide significant safety improvements and long-term serviceability of the trunk roads, which we hope road users recognise outweigh short-term disruption.”
Drivers in Perth and Kinross are strongly advised to plan their journeys meticulously during October, allowing extra time and considering alternative routes where feasible. Once the Kingsway works are finished, attention will shift to long-awaited modifications at the Swallow Roundabout in Dundee, signalling a continued period of road network enhancements in the broader region.
For a critical two-week period, from October 5 to October 20, drivers navigating these key routes will encounter simultaneous works. This means that anyone travelling from Perth towards Dundee, or making longer journeys that traverse the M90 south of Perth, will likely experience multiple bottlenecks on a single trip. The timing is particularly noteworthy as it falls within the school holiday period, traditionally a time when roads see increased family travel and tourism traffic, amplifying the potential for extended delays. Impact on Local Journeys and Businesses
Local businesses, especially those in sectors like logistics, delivery, and tourism, are expressing concern about the impending congestion. A local courier business owner, who opted to remain anonymous, highlighted the severe implications for operational timings and delivery schedules. “The overlapping works on the A90 Kingsway in Dundee and the A90 at Rait are going to be terrible,” the owner stated. “It’s going to mess with a lot of the timings that drivers have to stick to and will have an impact on pick-ups too.”
He further elaborated on existing difficulties: “It’s bad enough getting through the roadworks between Dundee and Perth at the moment, and we all know how bad the Kingsway is at the best of times.” The added pressure during school holidays, when traffic tends to be heavier during daylight hours, is considered “less than ideal” and is expected to affect a broader range of the community than initially anticipated. Detailed Breakdown of the Road Projects
The three major projects contributing to this period of heightened disruption are: A90 Kingsway Resurfacing (Dundee)
From October 5 to October 20, extensive resurfacing will take place on the A90 Kingsway, specifically between the A923 Coupar Angus off-slip and Strathmartine Road. This essential work will involve a contraflow system throughout its duration, alongside the closure of several slip roads. Transport Scotland’s operating company, Amey, indicates that this £1.5 million project has been strategically scheduled during the school holidays to mitigate the overall impact on daily commuters, though local sentiment suggests otherwise. A90 Safety Improvements (Dundee to Perth at Rait)
Ongoing since August, vital road safety improvements are being carried out on the A90 central reservation from the Rait junction to Middlebank Farm. This project, which has already caused notable congestion at various times, is scheduled to conclude on October 31. The overlap between this work and the Kingsway resurfacing means a significant stretch of the main arterial route between Perth and Dundee will be under restriction. Residents of nearby Kilspindie have previously voiced their frustration, reporting that traffic has been “bombarding” their village as drivers seek alternative routes to bypass the A90 works. Amey has confirmed that these particular works are “progressing as planned.” M90 Roadworks (South of Perth, near Glenfarg)
Adding a third layer to the complexity, the M90 near Glenfarg, situated south of Bridge of Earn, commenced three months of closures and speed restrictions today, September 23. Initially, overnight lane closures will be in effect until October 26. Following this, all-day lane closures will be imposed until December 16. The simultaneous nature of these works means that drivers travelling from Perth and Kinross towards Edinburgh or Fife will also encounter significant delays, particularly during the October 5-20 overlap period when all three projects are active. Official Response and Outlook
Addressing the concerns raised by the public and local businesses, Amey issued a statement indicating that their roadworks planning guidelines suggest a 5km buffer between work sites as sufficient for traffic management. A spokesperson for Amey elaborated: “It is recognised that the Kingsway works are likely to cause some journey time delays and these have been planned during the school holiday period when historically volumes are reduced from normal daily use.”
Furthermore, Amey emphasized proactive communication: “We are also undertaking advance notification to road users so that they may leave additional time for journeys or take alternative routes.” They acknowledged the anticipated disruption but underscored the broader benefits: “While there is anticipated to be an element of disruption as a consequence of the works, this programme represents a significant investment in the area and is essential to provide significant safety improvements and long-term serviceability of the trunk roads, which we hope road users recognise outweigh short-term disruption.”
Drivers in Perth and Kinross are strongly advised to plan their journeys meticulously during October, allowing extra time and considering alternative routes where feasible. Once the Kingsway works are finished, attention will shift to long-awaited modifications at the Swallow Roundabout in Dundee, signalling a continued period of road network enhancements in the broader region.