Phase two of four of the Perth Transport Futures Project will include the realignment of a section of the A9 trunk road, the provision of a new bridge across the River Tay and railway line, the creation of a new grade separated junction on the A9 and a new 6km link road connecting the A9 with the A93 and A94.

The project will create a third crossing over the River Tay, which will enable the local authority to fulfil the aims of its development plan, improve air quality within the city and reduce congestion.

Councillor Colin Stewart, convener of the council’s Environment, Enterprise & Infrastructure Committee, said: “I am pleased that we have reached another milestone in this significant project for Perth and Kinross.

“Phase 2 of the project will see the creation of a much needed third bridge over the River Tay which will help to take the pressure off the city infrastructure and improve traffic movement and air quality.”

Sweco’s Glasgow and Edinburgh offices will deliver the project with support from the consultancy’s expertise across the UK, which will include infrastructure design, site investigations, drainage and flood assessments, public utility liaison and design, as well as environmental impact, archaeological and ecological studies.

The appointment continues Sweco’s success of delivering similar City Deal transport infrastructure projects helping to shape the cities of the future.

The consultancy will also support Perth & Kinross Council through the planning application and tendering and procurement process, and will remain involved in a project management and site supervision role until its conclusion.

Sweco UK operations manager, Chris Cardno, said: “We are very pleased to have been appointed as lead consultant on this project, which will deliver a wide range of benefits to Perth and the surrounding local area. This is a great opportunity for us to utilise our multi-disciplinary approach and UK-wide expertise to deliver another extremely important infrastructure project in Scotland.”

Design of the Cross Tay Link Road is due to be completed in mid-2019, with a planning application submitted later that year. If approved, construction is due to commence in 2021 and expected to be completed in 2023.

In the UK, Sweco employs 800 people and has particular expertise in the fields of energy, transportation, environment, asset management, sustainable buildings and water. It consults on major projects nationwide via its network of offices in Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Forres, Glasgow, Leeds, London, Maidenhead, Manchester, Newcastle, Peterborough, Solihull and Stockton-on-Tees.