Guardbridge reopens ahead of schedule

Roadworks at Guardbridge will be completed on Tuesday 29 March – over a week ahead of schedule.

Main Street Guardbridge has been closed since 15 February as part of pipe laying work for the £25 million Green Energy Centre being built by the University of St Andrews at the former paper mill in the town and was scheduled to reopen on 8 April.

Contractors Vital Energi have confirmed that the road will reopen at 4.00pm today (Tuesday 29 March) – ten days ahead of schedule.

The diversions which have been in operation directing traffic around Guardbridge through Balmullo will be lifted from today.

Ashley Walsh, contracts manager for Vital Energi, said: “Laying pipes through Guardbridge and across the River Eden was a challenging operation which was scheduled to take eight weeks.

“We are pleased that due to 24 hour, seven-day working and largely good weather we have been able to reduce that by 10 days.

“On behalf of Vital Energi and the contractors who have been working with us on this phase of the project, I would like to thank the residents of Guardbridge who have been understanding throughout what has been a period of great disruption for them.”

Professor Verity Brown, Vice-Principal (Enterprise and Engagement) at the University of St Andrews, said: “Vital Energi are to be congratulated for completing this phase of the pipe laying work ahead of schedule.

“When we set out to communicate and engage with communities about the road closure we made it clear we understood it would cause enormous disruption and inconvenience.

“On behalf of the University, I want to again apologise to the communities of Guardbridge, Leuchars and the surrounding areas for the upheaval they have experienced and thank them most sincerely for their good humour, patience and forbearance.

“I also want to apologise to and thank those commuters whose journeys have been longer due to the roadworks.

“The creation of an Energy Centre at Guardbridge, with the biomass plant at its heart, will revitalise Guardbridge, bring hundreds of new jobs to the area and dramatically cut the University’s carbon footprint.

“We look forward to working with the residents of Guardbridge in the months and years to come.”

Notes to news editors

The University of St Andrews is building a £25 million Energy Centre on the east side of the former paper mill site at Guardbridge. The Centre will produce hot water from a biomass boiler using clean, natural fuels which will be pumped underground from Guardbridge to St Andrews where it will heat University buildings.

The project will create hundreds of constructions jobs, reduce University energy costs, cut carbon emissions by 6000 tonnes a year and pave the way for more than 250 University staff to relocate to Guardbridge, revitalising the former paper mill and surrounding area.

Issued by the University of St Andrews Communications Office, contactable on 01334 467310 or [email protected].