A north-east woman’s garden has been “destroyed” by motorists as they try to beat a 15-minute diversion caused by roadworks.
Elaine Scott, who lives near Turriff, off the A947 Aberdeen to Banff road, has slammed drivers for tearing up her front garden in a bid to make it to town faster.
A section of the A947 is currently closed between 9am-4pm for major surfacing works just before Turriff. It is not due to open fully to traffic until September 4.
Aberdeenshire Council has put a diversion in place, but motorists are trying to avoid a 15-minute detour by using a single track road through Gask.
Last night, Ms Scott has said that the increased traffic on the country road has caused “chaos”.
“My garden’s grass is being completely destroyed,” she said.
“This situation is getting totally out of control. There has even been a crane transporter coming up our road meeting a bin lorry with eight cars behind it.
“The entrance to my home is covered in mud tracks.”
The problem was even worse on Monday, when workers kept the road closed past 4pm – creating a backlog of traffic using the route through Ms Scott’s property.
With no limited passing places, cars and heavy goods vehicles are using her garden and driveway as a turning point.
Aberdeenshire Council’s head of roads and landscape services, Philip McKay has now pleaded with motorists to respect the official diversion.
Admitting that it was a challenge to find a suitable route to contend with the works, he said: “To minimise the convenience, to all involved, we would ask motorists and particularly drivers of larger vehicles, to follow the official diversions which have been put in place.
“During the period of the closure, when traffic flows are less, the signed diversion route directs vehicles along the most appropriate roads available.
“Unfortunately, some traffic is using more minor roads as ‘unofficial’ diversion routes. This is causing issues for local residents and traffic taking local access via these roads.”