Aberdeenshire Council’s Head of Roads, Landscape and Waste Services, Philip McKay, said: “The AWPR is a massive civil engineering project that has required many thousands of tonnes of materials to be moved around the vicinity of the route. Unfortunately, the volume and weight of this traffic has been extraordinary and far outwith the normal traffic loading that our more minor roads are accustomed to.

“This has led to significant damage to some routes and the maintenance costs are greatly above what would be expected for the average cost to maintain these type of rural roads. Therefore Aberdeenshire Council is in discussion with Aberdeen Roads Limited with a view to agreeing appropriate recompense for the repair of these damaged roads.

“A list of the roads which have been damaged will be used to ascertain which bridges are on those routes and inspect for damage over and above normal deterioration since the last condition inspection.”