New section of bypass set to open on Monday

Milestone: 1,000th beam delivered and installed on AWPR

A new section of a northeast road is due to open next week as the longawaited Aberdeen bypass moves closer to completion.

The B977 Echt to Balmedie Road will be closed from Friday at Goval from the new East Goval roundabout to its junction with the A947 Newmachar Road.

It is envisaged that these works will enable the new section to open to traffic on Monday.

But some surfacing works will be required and the new road is expected to close again from 8pm on Friday, July 7 to 6am Monday, July 10.

The news comes as Transport Scotland announced another major milestone in the project with 1,000 of 1,183 beams now in place along the route. The national body said last night they were confident that the bypass would be completed on schedule with opening set for this winter.

It has been a long wait for north-east residents with plans first put on the table for an Aberdeen bypass after World War II.

The first beams for the project arrived back in October 2015 when 23, each 33m long, were put into place at the Tipperty Underpass.

Keith Brown, economy secretary, said: “Beam deliveries and their subsequent installation are integral to this project, the longest roads construction project currently underway in the UK, as the route is interlinked through a connection of 75 bridges, including two river crossings and one railway bridge, as well as 70 culverts.

“Over the next three decades, the AWPR/B-T is expected to bring in an additional £6billion to the north-east economy and create around 14,000 new jobs. Around 1,500 people are currently working on the project, including onthe-job training for apprentices and local employment opportunities for longterm unemployed people.”

A further 183 beams are still required for the project, including 10 for the Stonehaven Junction – each 43m long.

Aberdeenshire council leader Jim Gifford said: “While there have been a number of important milestones in the AWPR/B-T project, I think the delivery of the 1,000th beam is particularly impressive, as it highlights the scale of this vital route."

Liam Kerr, Conservative transport spokesman, said: “Motorists in the northeast have put up with a great deal during the construction works for the AWPR.

“This is simply the latest in a series of road closures, but drivers will be well aware that the short-term pain will be worth it for the undoubted long-term benefits the bypass will bring."

“The delivery of the 1,000th beam is impressive”

BEAM ME UP: A milestone was reached when the 1,000th beam was installed on the AWPR route with another 183 still to go