Traffic restrictions lifted for Easter weekend

Traffic restrictions on the A91 Cupar – St Andrews road at Guardbridge are to be lifted in time for Easter.

Temporary traffic lights have been in place 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 at Guardbridge.

Contractors are working night and day to reinstate the road surface and reopen the road on Friday night (25 March 2016).

Main Street Guardbridge will remain closed to through traffic.

Ashley Walsh, contracts managerfor contractors Vital Energi, said: “Pipe laying work at Guardbridge and across the River Eden involves four separate phases and was scheduled to take eight weeks.

“Due to 24 hour, seven-day working we have been able to complete the phases on the A91 two weeks ahead of schedule and therefore will be able to remove the temporary traffic lights on the night of  Friday 25 March.

“Work on the remaining section in Main Street Guardbridge is progressing well and is slightly ahead of schedule. Traffic diversions will remain in operation until the road through Guardbridge reopens, which we are anticipating will be towards the end of next week, all being well.”

Professor Verity Brown, Vice-Principal (Enterprise and Engagement) at the University of St Andrews, said: “It is great news that traffic restrictions on the Cupar–St Andrews Road are going to be lifted in time for the Easter weekend, making it easier and quicker for people travelling to and from St Andrews.

“Vital Energi have done a tremendous job completing this part of the operation early.

“We appreciate that the roadworks have caused disruption to residents in Guardbridge and the surrounding areas and to commuters. We apologise for the inconvenience and thank everyone for their patience and forbearance.”

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.

To enable pipe laying from the Guardbridge site across the Eden, Main Street Guardbridge is closed to through traffic from Monday 15 February until Friday 08 April. The move comes at the end of extensive consultation with residents and businesses in Guardbridge and the surrounding areas.

Issued by the University of St Andrews Communications Office, contactable on 01334 467310 or 462530 or [email protected].