Road bosses have warned that north-east motorists can expect four weeks of closures and potential gridlock to start this weekend as work on the Haudagain bypass begins.
From Friday, the A96 Aberdeen to Inverness route will be closed in both directions at Auchmill Road for four consecutive weekends to allow for the construction of a link road that will bypass the the notorious bottleneck.
The move comes after the roundabout was once branded the “most congested in Europe”.
It is hoped that this new stretch will alleviate some of the regularly experienced rush hour traffic jams.
A Transport Scotland spokesman said: “The work planned for the A96 at Auchmill Road will be carried out during weekends to minimise disruption to road users where possible.
“Drivers are asked to approach the area with caution.
“We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank the public for their continued patience and co-operation.
“We ask road users to continue to be mindful of the safety of our workforce as they drive though this area.”
Estimated to be completed in spring of 2021, the £50 million project is hoped to not only improve journey time reliability but also ensure a safer route for pedestrians and cyclists.
The lane closures will commence at 7pm each Friday evening until 7am each Monday morning, to allow for continuous 24-hour working.