Hospitality industry bosses hope a new stretch of the AWPR road opening this week will not cause major problems for their businesses.
The northbound carriageway between Balmedie and Tipperty opens to traffic with no access to the existing A90 between Foveran and Balmedie apart from through the new Newburgh and Tipperty Junctions.
However, the owners of businesses based along the former Aberdeen to Peterhead route have voiced their anger at the new road branding it a “Balmedie bypass”. They now fear they will no longer get any passing trade at all.
Cock and Bull restaurant owner Roger Morrison has been in business for 20 years. He said he had been seeing “green shoots” of recovery following some of his “worst” trading conditions throughout the north-east’s oil and gas downturn.
He added: “I think we have seen a 40% drop in trade overall.
“I hope our regular customers will stand by us, but as for new passing trade – I doubt folk are going to double back on themselves after they have bypassed Balmedie.”
Farmer James Duthie runs a bed and breakfast at Aitkenshill and previously voiced concerns over the placing of Coastal Trail signage on the new road.
The brown sign directs motorists to take the new Foveran junction to start their meandering route along the Aberdeenshire coast – beginning their tour in Newburgh.
However, Mr Duthie believes the sign should be placed further south on the road at Blackdog.
Mr Duthie said: “I’ve already had guests phoning because they are getting completely lost. And as for passing trade – we won’t get any after next week.
“No one seems to care that Balmedie has been ignored.”
North-east MSP Peter Chapman has written to Economy Minister Keith Brown MSP asking for signage to be moved before the road fully opens. He said he fully understood the frustration of local businesses.
He said: “We should be doing all we can to encourage visitors to explore our beautiful coastline – all the way up the coast from Aberdeen.
Traffic using the existing A90 between Balmedie and Foveran, and the new road’s southbound carriageway between Foveran and Tipperty, will now be transferred onto the new Balmedie-Tipperty northbound carriageway.
A Transport Scotland spokesman confirmed diversions will be signposted and said: “Access to these new northbound lanes will give the contractor full access to the southbound carriageway to undertake works safely. It is yet another visible sign that works are progressing in this area on the new section of road, as well as on the existing A90.”