Scheme outline
Construction of a new dual two-lane grade separated bypass to carry the A90 around the western side of Aberdeen. This scheme constitutes the longest length of road under construction in the UK.
Its progression through the statutory planning process was particularly difficult and subject to a number of revisions to the road scheme and legal challenges from activists and others who were opposed to the road being built.
The northern section went to an extra consultation stage, and was eventually confirmed as taking a slightly circuitous route around the north of Aberdeen to rejoin the existing A90.
At the southern end, a section called the "fast link" will connect to the Stonehaven Bypass. This part has been particularly criticised for connecting to the existing A90 at Stonehaven with a low-standard junction, and for connecting to the rest of the Western Peripheral at a flat roundabout junction.
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Timescale
Cost
Status
Completed
Type
Highway authority
Funding
Progress
The Scottish Executive has now given approval for this route to go ahead.
The preferred route is the source of much controversy (see links below) as it runs through the grounds of a special needs school.
The full route has now been chosen, avoiding the special needs school that was the source of much controversy. The new route will include a southern section linking directly to the A90 Stonehaven Bypass.
The Scottish Executive announces that the preferred route will include the southern 'fast link' to the A90 Stonehaven Bypass.
Draft Special Road orders are published for the new road, which marks the start of the formal public consultation. It is also announced that the southern 'fastlink' connection to the A90 Stonehaven Bypass will be dual carriageway, and not single carriageway with overtaking lanes as originally announced.
The public inquiry into the scheme is now expected in August 2008. £6m has reportedly already been spent on Compulsory Purchase Orders on affected property.
The BBC reports that 'ministers are not likely to be able to determine an appropriate route for the planned Aberdeen bypass until the summer'.
The bypass has finally been approved by Scottish ministers. The cost is now estimated at £395 million.
Reports of legal challenge by Road Sense campaign group could push the VERY optimistic completion date of 2012 back another year, according to the Press & Journal.
The BBC reports that the total cost of preparatory work and compulsory purchases associated with this project have now reached £100m. Construction has still not started!
A legal challenge to the bypass is to be heard in the Court of Session in February 2011.
The legal challenge to the bypass by campaign group Road Sense began yesterday.
The legal challenge to the new road has been rejected. It is not yet known whether or not the objectors will appeal against the decision.
Campaign group Road Sense has voted in favour of a new legal challenge to the bypass. Meanwhile, an online petition calling on Road Sense to allow the bypass to proceed has already gathered over 8,000 signatures.
Road Sense's new legal challenge may not reach court until 2013, according to the Scottish Courts Service. Meanwhile, the online petition in favour of the bypass has now gathered over 13000 signatures.
A date has been set for Road Sense's latest appeal against the AWPR, after Scottish ministers pressed for the case to be considered as a matter of urgency. The court hearing will now take place in Edinburgh from 13-16 December 2011. The appeal may still be dropped if the anti-road campaigners are unable to secure an agreement to have their legal expenses capped.
The appeal hearing will go ahead in December, after a judge agreed that the legal costs of the objectors would be met.
The latest legal challenge to the new road has failed, it was announced today.
Roadsense has until 1st April 2012 to appeal against the decision. After that there should be nothing stopping from building the bypass.
Press reports indicate that Road Sense will take their appeal to the Supreme Court.
Although the appeal lodged by the opponents of the scheme has been thrown out by Scottish courts, Road Sense now plans to take the case to the UK Supreme Court.
The UK Supreme Court hearing will take place on 9-10 July 2012.
Work has now started with demolition of houses on the line of the road at Milltimber Brae.
The official start of construction was marked by a visit from the First Minister on 16 February 2015, according to the Transport Scotland website.
Local media are reporting that construction is approximately 50% complete.
An updated road atlas depicts the AWPR as A90. The existing A90 renumbered to A92 and the east-west link road as A956.
The opening date for the new road is now likely to be in Autumn 2018.
Cones and "road ahead closed" signs spotted on the AWPR between Blackdog (current A90) and Goval (A947) suggest parts of the new carriageway may open to traffic in advance of the opening of the full length of the scheme, which is expected in the autumn.
The road between Goval and Blackdog is fully opened with national speed limit in place
According to Transport Scotland, the new road "is neither a motorway nor dual carriageway, it is designated as a special road. As such, agricultural vehicles need to meet specific conditions to travel on the road".
The First Minister announced to the Scottish Parliament on 4 September that the bypass will be "fully open" by the end of the year.
There had been some confusion, as previously Transport Scotland had stated Autumn 2018 for opening.
The latest statement about the road’s opening from the Scottish Government is "no definitive date". Concerns have been raised over defects to the River Don crossing section even before opening.
According to local media, the AWPR contractors now state the problematic River Don Crossing will be "ready in December". Local politicians are calling for other sections which appear to be complete be open sooner. Apparently the contract prohibits this which has lead to the Scottish government promising a review of future contracts.
BBC News reports that completed sections will open next week. The Don Crossing still remains closed due to remedial works.
Most of the road opened early this morning, with only the problematic River Don crossing remaining closed to traffic.
Transport Scotland have confirmed the Aberdeen bypass will not be fully open in time for Christmas. The final 4.5 mile stretch, between Parkhill and Craibstone, had planned to open before December 25. However, Aberdeen Roads Limited have confirmed the deadline they confirmed during a meeting with ministers will be missed. Instead the firm are targeting a January 2019 completion, although no definitive date has been confirmed.
All contractor's equipment has now been removed from the problematic Don Crossing and it looks to be ready for traffic . However temporary diversions and plenty of traffic cones still in situ either end. No official word on full opening of this last remaining section of the AWPR.
The AWPR is now fully open. The final section between Craibstone and Parkhill was opened to traffic this morning, according to Transport Scotland.
More information
- Transport Scotland: Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route/Balmedie to Tipperty
- BBC News: Deal reached on route for bypass
- BBC News: Petition against Aberdeen bypass objection gets support
With thanks to Chris Fletcher, Jonathan, Owen Rudge, Matt the Pie, Al, Gerry McKenna and Michael Pritchard for information on this page.
'Central' route is chosen for the northern section of the bypass.