Keith Brown has heralded 2016 as a “major” year for the Aberdeen bypass as the project “moves up a gear” and the first sections of the new road finally open to the public.
The Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities yesterday hailed the “momentous changes” made in the north-east over the past 10 months as the scheme moved from preparatory works to construction work on the ground.
He also praised the 1,300 workers – set to peak at 1,500 – who will have undertaken 1.7million hours of manual labour by the time the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route/ Balmedie to Tipperty project is finished late 2017.
The network, which will cover 58.3km (36 miles) around Aberdeen, will feature approximately 30,000 cats eyes and 3,500 sign posts, while 10million cubic metres of earth will be excavated from the site.
The road will also have around 4,000 manhole covers which, if they were stacked on top of each other, would reach eight miles high.
“Building the 58km (36 miles) of new road, and 22km (13 miles) of new slip roads, two new river crossings, and some 150 other structures to support the road is a huge undertaking,” said Mr Brown.
“We have seen the landscape change rapidly this year. Drilling and rock blasting to clear a path for the new road started in July near Cookney and has expanded out across the scheme.
“The first bridge beams at the new Tipperty junction were installed in October which will carry the A90 over the realigned B9000 Newburgh to Pitmedden road.
“The new Craibstone and Dyce Junctions are on schedule to open this autumn and the early benefits this will bring will be realised by those using roads in and around the Airport.
“However, it is the works at Balmedie Junction which will provide many people with the first real chance to see major works happening as these move up a gear early in the new year.”
Mr Brown also encouraged people to visit the Contact and Education Space at New Mains of Ury near Stonehaven, where they can speak to those delivering the road.
“It is truly bringing home the reality that this long await road will be delivered,” he said.
“This project is a mammoth undertaking, but one we are relishing, and there is much to look forward to this year with the first sections of the new road due to open to the public.
“We are making good headway with the new bypass which will soon be a reality. The north-east deserves nothing less.”