The Aberdeen bypass is to be fully open by late autumn, with the first sections open to traffic in the next few weeks.
That was the news when I had a meeting with Transport Scotland, the construction joint venture (the CJV), and the assistant managing agent for the project at Woodhill House.
They are still building the new bridge over the Don but otherwise the project is in the final stages of construction.
The first section to open to traffic will be from Goval to Blackdog, which “is not far away from completion and will be in the next few weeks”. The next section will be Blackdog to Tipperty, then Craibstone to Stonehaven/Charleston. The last section to open will be Craibstone to Goval over the Don.
Only 60,000 tonnes of surfacing still has to be laid out of a total of 550,000 tonnes. When completed there will be 58km of main road, 40km of side roads, and 30km of access roads.
Some 1.4million trees will have been planted when the project is completed.
There will a fun day on Saturday 8 September at the Dee crossing with a day for cyclists on the Sunday. There is more information about that at https://www.transport.gov.scot/news/awpr-gonortheast-campaign-launched-in-run-up-to-completion/
I asked a number of questions about local issues:
• The traffic lights heading on to Wellington Road northbound from the A90 at Charleston will be rephased. There can be long tailbacks on to the A90 currently.
• A permanent safety barrier will be installed alongside the U63K where is goes under the AWPR south of Kirkton of Maryculter. This will replace the temporary barrier.
• SUDs ponds would be able to cope with Storm Frank situations.
• Community councils have been invited to a briefing on progress next week.
• The AWPR team are baffled by pollution on the Crynoch Burn, and say it does not come from their site. They have been working with SEPA and they “struggle to understand” where it comes from.
• Land which had been required for the construction of the road is now being returned to landowners.
• Construction sites are now winding down.
Thank you for the information about the AWPR.
I have concerns about the safety barrier along the U63K south of Kirkton of Maryculter.
My perception is that the road is not wide enough for two vehicles to pass.
(During the construction phase, this part of the road was controlled by traffic lights.)
Has this been taken account of in the planning?
Thank you for your attention to this.
I would expect so, however I have not seen the detailed plans. I simply asked about the barriers as that issue had been raised by residents. I have asked the managing agent.
Do you have any further updates. It’s getting ridiculous now that the Stonehaven and Charleston to Craibstome still not opened? It’s time this was chased up on behalf of the very long suffering public doing these gruelling commutes everyday. We’ve ran out of patience.
Thank you
I agree it is frustrating however Transport Scotland continue to say nothing about when the local parts of the AWPR will open. Even questions in parliament do not shed any light on the opening timetable.