A north-east thoroughfare will reopen to traffic next week for the first time in 15 years.
Chapel Street in Peterhead was closed to all traffic in 2001, following talks about regenerating the town centre.
But it is now set to welcome back motorists after unsuccessful efforts to improve footfall in the community.
Aberdeenshire Council hopes the measure will help revitalise the town and Stuart Pratt, chairman of the Buchan area committee – which approved the measure – said last night the traffic – which will be one-way only – will initially be trialled for a period of up to two years.
To prevent congestion on the cobbled road, parking restrictions will be in place. However, disabled parking and loading bays will be created and a 20mph speed limit has been introduced.
Bollards at the edge of footpaths have also been installed for the public’s safety.
The road is scheduled to open on Monday, November 21.
Philip McKay, the council’s head of roads, landscape services and waste, apologised for any inconvenience during the preparatory works.
He said: “With the changes that have been made, I urge all road users, particularly pedestrians, to exercise additional caution when using Chapel Street following the re-introduction of all traffic.
“Officers will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the changes during the trial period”
Councillor David Aitchison, chairman of Aberdeenshire Council’s infrastructure services committee added: “I sincerely hope the re-introduction of traffic to this area of Peterhead will be a success and lead to an increase in business.”
Opinion on reopening the road to traffic had been divided at the consultation stage.
The concerns raised included noise, damage to the cobbled surface, and the lack of parking in the town centre to encourage people to shop locally.