Elected Member Briefing Note 2026, No. 75
About this Briefing Note
Report by: Elaine Ritchie - Strategic Lead, Housing and Communities
Date: 1 July 2026
Subject: Disruption to bus services
Responsible Officer: Margaret Roy, Public Transport Team Leader
Details
Purpose
There will be disruption to bus services across Perth during summer 2026, arising from Roadworks and closures across the city, to enable Scottish Gas Network (SGN) to replace gas pipes, Crieff Road to be re-surfaced and essential kerbing works in North Muirton.
These closures will impact on network reliability, accessibility, and public confidence in public transport, particularly for vulnerable users and communities with limited alternatives and will affect three of the busiest commercial bus services in Perth and Kinross.
Briefing Information
Monday 6 July until Sunday 26 July inclusive 21 days
Struan Road in Letham with be closed for SGN gas pipe replacement works.
The required diversion will mean that passengers residing on the hilly section of Strathtay Road on the loop between the top and bottom of Garth Avenue will have to walk to Garth Avenue to access Services 1/1A, 2/2A and 70.
Monday 27 July until Monday 3 August inclusive (above works continued) 7 days
As these works are at the junction of Garth Avenue/Strathtay Road, this cannot be used as a diversion. Therefore, there will be no local bus services operating in Strathtay Road or Struan Road during this time. Passengers will require to go to either Newhouse Road or Crieff Road to access diverted bus services.
The Public Transport Unit (PTU) will continue to liaise with SGN to establish what support they can provide during this closure.
Monday 6 July 2026 until Sunday 16 August inclusive 42 days
Bute Drive will be fully and partially closed to allow essential kerbing works and the installation of a new Toucan Crossing.
As a result, the Service 9 will be diverted from Gowans Terrace to Argyle Road via Dunkeld Road and will be unable to serve any bus stops on Bute Drive during the works. This means there will be no local bus service operating along Bute Drive for this period.
The Toucan Crossing installation is expected to take only two to three days. However, the kerbing works will require approximately three weeks of full road closure, followed by a further three weeks of one-way traffic management.
The kerbing works are considered essential due to the high volume of pedestrian traffic, particularly from school pupils, and are required to improve safety in the area. The school summer holidays provide the only practical opportunity to carry out these works while minimising disruption to pupils and staff.
Monday 27 July until Sunday 9 August inclusive 14 days
The A85 Crieff Road in Perth will be affected between its junction at the Dunkeld Road (A912) roundabout and its junction with Feus Road.
During this time, high-frequency Services 1/1A and 2/2A will be unable to serve the section of route between the Dunkeld/Crieff Road roundabout and the Tulloch shops. Instead, these services will divert via Dunkeld Road and Auld Bond Road, accessing Tulloch from that direction.
Arrangements are being explored to help maintain access to transport for the community throughout the duration of the works, ensuring residents continue to have travel options during this period.
Conclusion
While these closures will inevitably cause some temporary disruption for residents across Perth, the works are essential to upgrade the gas network, improve the reliability and resilience of the service for local communities, and ensure the ongoing safety of pupils and the wider public. The Public Transport Team will continue to closely monitor the impact of the closures and work in partnership with Stagecoach and other key stakeholders, including HSCP colleagues, to minimise disruption wherever possible and ensure any vital support is provided to vulnerable households.
