The row over plans to end gridlock at the Haudagain roundabout deepened last night after city council chiefs failed to show up at a public exhibition for a second day running.
Transport Scotland criticised the local authority after nobody turned up to answer questions from residents who will be affected by plans to ease the notorious traffic black spot.
More people from across the north-east turned out at the Henry E Rae Community Centre yesterday to see the national roads agency’s preferred option for easing congestion at the Haudagain.
The plans would involve building a dual carriageway linking the A90 at North Anderson Drive and the A96 at Auchmill Road, beginning when the Aberdeen bypass is complete in 2018.
When the exhibition opened on Thursday, concerns were raised that the council was not there to speak to worried residents – despite claims it had played an active part in organising the event.
Several local people who attended yesterday said they had come to ask questions about their futures, but that no one could answer them.
SNP MSP Mark MacDonald said representatives from the local authority should have been there to help his constituents, as it will be their responsibility to re-home them when their homes are bulldozed to make way for the project.
And he claimed the absence of council officers was due to an “eleventh hour” plea from “childish” politicians for them not to attend.
“It’s clear that there has been a close working relationship with council officials and Transport Scotland throughout the process so far,” he said.
“This remained so until an eleventh hour plea from politicians who do not want to work alongside the Scottish Government.”
City council convener Willie Young, who said the council was never invited to take part, denied he had encouraged a boycott.
“This exhibition was not a council event. It was organised by Transport Scotland, so it is for them to explain what is happening. They will be responsible for knocking the houses down. The council will be making its own decision about the project on May 26 at the finance, policy and resources committee.
“That’s when we will set up our own meeting with the residents.”