A major traffic route will shut for three weeks next month when flood defence operations begin in Aberdeenshire.
Huntly’s £3million Flood Protection Scheme will require the closure of the A920 and C110s from February 1 to enable the remedial work to be carried out on the Ittingstone Burn culvert – linking it to the River Deveron under the carriageway.
This is undersized and, during bad weather, the watercourse often swells up, bursts its banks and floods the road.
Aberdeenshire Council’s Head of Roads, Landscape Services and Waste Management, Philip McKay, said: “We appreciate that a road closure at this time of year is less than ideal, especially as the diversion is significant.
“However, the only alternative option would be to delay the culvert work until later in the year, with a knock-on effect for the delivery of the overall flood scheme, potentially incurring significant additional costs.
“We apologise for any inconvenience caused, but I’m sure local people will understand it is for the greater good of the town and recognise the disruption in connection with this major project has been minimal so far.”
While the closure is scheduled to last three weeks, the works will be progressed as quickly as possible.
In the Meadows area of Huntly, work on the bunds, alongside the river embankment, has started and a large amount of work is planned in this area over the coming months.
The council’s contractor Wills Bros has also visited the local primary school to talk to school children about the dangers of playing in and around building sites.