Work on a long-awaited £10million project to upgrade a north-east bottleneck has begun.
After years of planning and consultations, Transport Minister Derek Mackay yesterday launched the project at the Inveramsay Bridge, north of Inverurie.
Hold-ups at the bridge, on the A96 Aberdeen-Inverness route are a constant source of frustration for drivers, who have to queue at peak times to negotiate the tight bend controlled by traffic lights.
The upgrade includes replacing the crossing and realigning the road so there is no need for traffic lights, which should improve the flow of traffic.
The work will also reduce the likelihood of large vehicles hitting the bridge, which can cause delays to both road and rail users.
Yesterday, Mr Mackay attended his first sod-cutting in the north-east since becoming transport minister in First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s reshuffle and said he was delighted it was for a project so badly needed.
He said: “It’s a project that will make a real difference.
“It will be good for businesses and the residents living nearby, and allow a better flow of traffic.
“The start of work at Inveramsay Bridge is a significant milestone for road users and when complete will bring huge benefits through reduced congestion and improved journey time reliability.”
Contractors Balfour Beatty have been given the job of building nearly a mile of new road, redirecting it west towards the River Urie, and then over the railway line.
A new junction at the bridge will be created to provide local access, as well as an underpass.
Yesterday, work to fell 300 trees to make way for the road began. Construction work will begin in February, with the full project due to be completed by 2016.
Local SNP MSPs Dennis Robertson and Alex Salmond welcomed the start of the project, and said residents in the area would be delighted when it was complete.
Mr Salmond, who represents Aberdeenshire East, said: “I’m obviously delighted to see work getting underway at Inveramsay this side of Christmas – earlier than originally expected.
“In little over a year’s time, the days of waiting on the lights to change at Inveramsay will be history – with reduced journey times and improved safety along the A96.”