Elected Member Briefing Note - Emergency closure of A926

About this Briefing Note

Report by: Fraser Crofts, Strategic Lead - Environment and Infrastructure

Date: 13 February 2025

Details

Purpose

This Briefing Note provides an update on essential gas repairs that will close the A926 between Blairgowrie and Alyth for a period of up to six weeks. 

Briefing Information

The A926 Blairgowrie to Alyth road will be closed between Pictfield and the Half Way House junction for six weeks starting from 9.30am on Monday, 17 February, for gas works by SGN. 

The road was temporarily closed last week for an emergency repair to the gas main. 

However, further investigation has revealed that an entire 600-metre length of the gas main needs to be replaced.  

Due to its location in the middle of the road, it would be dangerous to operate a contraflow system while engineers are working. 

We appreciate the inconvenience this will cause for many motorists but these works by SGN are vital for ensuring the safety and reliability of the gas supply.  

As the local authority, we will be looking to bring forward any other works scheduled for this road so they can happen concurrently, reducing inconvenience for motorists. 

Diversions will be put in place, and there will be changes to public transport to assist commuters during this period. 

Stagecoach Service 57/57A will be impacted by this closure.  Dundee and Perth bound services will operate between Meigle and Blairgowrie Wellmeadow via the A94 - Coupar Angus - A923. Services will not operate via Rattray, New Alyth & Alyth. 

Passengers from Rattray will require to access Service 57/57A at Blairgowrie Wellmeadow. 

Passengers from New Alyth & Alyth will be linked to Service 57/57A at Meigle by a shuttle bus operating a reduced timetable shown below.  

Blairgowrie Freedom Coach will operate the earlier morning commuter journeys on Mondays to Saturdays for the six-week period, while Stagecoach will undertake off peak journeys during the day and the early evening journeys. No late evening journeys or Sunday shuttle service will operate. 

School transport will operate as normal on the morning of Monday 17 February, and the Council's Public Transport Unit will be liaising with schools, operators and families affected by the closure to put in revised arrangements similar to those provided last week for the afternoon journeys onwards.