TRAVEL FROM MORAY to Aberdeen International Airport will be greatly eased from this week with the announcement that the first section of the Aberdeen bypass has been opened.
A new roundabout at Craibstone Junction and the replacement of another with permanent traffic lights forms a vital first part of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route project.
Crucially the Craibstone Roundabout will connect with the AWPR dual carriageway when it opens next year – and also with the new Airport Link Road, which Aberdeen City Council is due to open officially tomorrow.
Following a visit to Aberdeen late last week, the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs & Fair Work, said: “Back in December 2014, we announced that the Craibstone and Dyce Drive Junctions would be open to traffic in autumn 2016 and we can confirm that the first section of the AWPR/B-T works, the Craibstone and Dyce Junctions, is now open and operational.
“I’m sure this news will be appreciated by local communities, road users and businesses in the north east and across Scotland who have been extremely patient while these works were undertaken.
“Early benefits from the project are becoming a reality with improved road safety in this area and better journey time reliability which, along with Aberdeen City Council’s Airport Link Road which is due to open [on Monday] will help improve and enhance travel in the local area.
“The north east economy needs every stimulus that can be provided and our investment in this project is expected to bring in an additional £6billion to the north-east economy and create around 14,000 jobs over the next 30 years. We can look forward to the full benefits of these works starting to be realised when the road opens in winter 2017.
“More widely, we are committed to making improvements at the Haudagain Roundabout once work on the AWPR project is complete. We have also invested around £10m in a new Inveramsay Bridge on the A96 which opened earlier this year, and have made a longer term commitment to dual the A96 between Aberdeen and Inverness.”
AWPR/B-T works are expected to continue in the Craibstone and Dyce area until winter 2017, predominately on the construction of a new bridge which will carry the AWPR over the A96.
Carol Benzie, Managing Director of Aberdeen International Airport, said: “I’m pleased to see that the new roundabout and junction are now operational.
“We welcome the improved road system around the airport, as it will alleviate the traffic issues that have created challenges to our passengers and employees in recent years.”