One of Aberdeen’s busiest roads is to remain fully closed for up to a month longer than anticipated amidst fears of “enormous disruption”.
The A92 Parkway in Bridge of Don has been closed in both directions for two weeks for roadworks and was to have reopened in one direction on Friday.
It has now emerged, however, that the closure between Laurel Drive and Gordon Brae will stay in place in both directions for health and safety reasons.
The work is now scheduled to be completed on August 18, just before the schools go back on August 21.
Contractors have, however, stressed that the overall project is on schedule and that the road may be fully reopened to traffic ahead of schedule.
A spokeswoman for WM Donald Ltd, which is carrying out sewer installation work as part of the Grandhome housing development, said: “Due to the interests of health and safety, and taking into account the close proximity of machines to traffic and members of the public, the council have allowed WM Donald to keep the road fully closed and not have a partial reopening.
“With this in mind, and being able to carry out the works in a safe manner, WM Donald are well within target of reopening the road in the six-week window and have the potential of opening it in its entirety sooner than that.”
The Grandhome development will include 7,000 new homes, three primary schools and a secondary school, in an area running from the Parkway to the top of Whitestripes Road.
Bridge of Don councillor John Reynolds called the news “disappointing”, while Gordon MP Colin Clark said: “Even during the holiday period this will cause enormous disruption in the area.”
Traffic is being diverted along Gordon Brae, Gordon’s Mills Road, Tillydrone Avenue, Tillydrone Road, St Machar Drive, Great Northern Road and Mugiemoss Road.