Minister demands earlier opening of bypass

Matheson wants to give drivers quick access to 20-mile stretch

HOPES have been raised that a major section of the Aberdeen bypass could finally be opened after an intervention by ministers.

Transport Secretary Michael Matheson has piled the pressure on government officials and contractors as he urged them to approve the opening of the key route “swiftly”.

He wants the main 19.6-mile length of the road between Craibstone and Stonehaven to be open “as soon as possible” and has “instructed” officials to make it happen.

The move emerged ahead of an update on the opening of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route that is due to be given to MSPs next week. Aberdeen MSP Mark McDonald said the minister’s intervention was a “very welcome development”, and the plan offered the “next best scenario” to the opening of the full road.

Scottish ministers have stepped in to try and open a major section of the delay-hit Aberdeen bypass.

Transport Secretary Michael Matheson told officials to work to get the main 19.6-mile length of the road between Craibstone to Stonehaven open “as soon as possible”, as he piled the pressure on the contractors to “swiftly” give it the goahead.

The intervention, which emerged ahead of an update the minister is due to give on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) in Holyrood next week, raised hopes frustrated drivers could soon be allowed to use the congestion-busting road.

Responding to questions from Aberdeen Donside MSP Mark McDonald, the SNP minister insisted the contractors remained “on target” for completion of the entire £745 million dual carriageway by the “late autumn”.

However, he said Aberdeen Roads Limited (ARL) consortium was “unable to estimate a precise opening date” because of remedial work that continues at the new River Don crossing.

Mr Matheson said: “Transport Scotland is working closely with the contractor to open sections of the road as soon as it is safe to do so.

“In particular, I have instructed Transport Scotland to investigate the potential to open the 31.5km section of new road from Craibstone to Stonehaven and Charleston as soon as possible, while remedial work at the Don progresses.

“Discussions have taken place with ARL and they are currently progressing this matter through the necessary governance channels within their organisations.

“It is right and important that ARL considers this matter carefully, but we are urging them to conclude their deliberations swiftly so the people of the northeast can start to benefit from the new road as soon as possible.”

Sections of the road have already opened to traffic, including the Craibstone and Dyce junctions at Aberdeen Airport, the 4.3-mile section of dual carriageway between Blackdog and Parkhill (Goval) and between Balmedie and Tipperty.

However, concerns have been growing that the AWPR will not be fully opened by the late autumn target, creating a further delay to the long-awaited scheme, after “minor defects” were found in the River Don bridge.

Mr McDonald, an independent MSP, said: “I think most people would accept that the best outcome would be for the whole road to be open.

“But given that there is remedial work being done at the River Don, it’s the next best scenario for the section from Craibstone to Stonehaven, which has been completed for some time, to be able to open.

“And that would then relieve a huge amount of pressure on other routes within the city.

“So if the cabinet secretary is now intervening to instruct that work is done to get this section open, I think that’s a very welcome development.”

A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: “Remedial work at the Don needs to be concluded, but in the meantime we have been urging the contractor to conclude their deliberations on the opening of the 31.5km section of new road from Craibstone to Stonehaven and Charleston as soon as possible.

“A proposal is still being discussed within their organisations.

“This is a commercial matter for the contractor but we continue to work closely with them to allow the people of the northeast to enjoy the benefits of the new road as soon as possible.”

City council transport spokesman Ross Grant said: “This saga has gone on for too long.

“The people of Aberdeen have invested £75m into this project and deserve to know when it will be open.

“To date, Mr Matheson seems incapable of offering the people of the north-east concrete answers.

“Put simply, Mr Matheson needs to come clean and tell us when the project will be complete and if there will be any additional costs.”

“That would then relieve a huge amount of pressure”

Transport Secretary Michael Matheson has stepped up a gear to head off a looming PR disaster over the opening date of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR). Scottish Government and contractors had been clinging to the hope that the already delayed bypass would be open in its entirety by “late autumn”. Stubborn remedial bridge works are thought to be at the heart of the delay, but depressing recent signals appear to indicate that even this deadline will not be met. Mr Matheson has run out of patience and delivered a rocket to his transport officials and contractors. He has set them a challenge to open a stretch of almost 20 miles urgently while continuing to work on the remaining section which is causing the embarrassing delay. We are closing in on the traditional Christmas shutdown for industry, which will not wake up again until well into January. Missing the current deadline and crashing into the new year would be catastrophic for Scottish ministers, with public dissatisfaction and frustration intensifying around Aberdeen. Mr Matheson thinks opening this major section would have an instant effect on transport paralysis which often blights the city. Full marks to him, but a form of paralysis has already existed for some time over getting any information about the opening date of the bypass.

“Missing the current deadline and crashing into next year would be catastrophic for ministers”