All the info on closure of central Union Street

Work to transform Aberdeen’s Union Street into a mecca for cyclists, traders and visitors begins today.

Council chiefs say it’s the “biggest redevelopment” in the centre for 200 years.

But the good news of the £20 million facelift comes with restrictions drivers, residents and traders will need to manoeuvre around.

We’ve compiled a handy explainer on what the closure entails.

● Why is the City Council closing Union Street?

The closure will allow a major revamp between Market Street and Bridge Street. Pavements will be widened, reducing the road to one lane each way and to include segregated bike lanes.

This is the first phase, with aspirations to eventually continue the bike lane all the way from the Castlegate to Holburn Junction.

Work on the new £40m food and drink market at the former BHS building will also get under way.

Traffic restrictions affect only the strip between Market Street and Bridge Street at this time.

A one-way lane will remain open for deliveries, bin collections and emergency services.

● How long will the closure last?

The revamp will be carried out in three 100metre chunks and take about 20 months. First to be dug up is between Market Street and entrance to St Nicholas Kirkyard.

Roads crews then move on to the stretch from the kirkyard to Union Bridge, before the last strip to the Bridge Street junction. If all goes well, the project is expected to be finished by December 2025.

● What will happen to city centre buses?

Buses with stops at the closed-off section will be diverted – similar to when central Union Street was pedestrianised.

New routes will go via Union Terrace, Schoolhill, Market Street, Guild Street and Bridge Street.

The 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 11, 11A, 17, 17A, 17K, 18, 18A, 19, 20, 23 and 172 First Aberdeen buses will be diverted.

Stagecoach’s 4, 5, 6, 6a, 7, 7B, X7, 201, 202, 218 routes will change too.

Major city centre parades such as Grampian Pride will also be rerouted until at least November.

● Are blue badge holders exempt?

It is understood access to blue badge disabled parking spaces will not be disrupted. Drivers – already banished from the Market Street/Bridge Street stretch – will be able to reach all city centre car parks.

● What about cyclists? The redesign of the 300metre stretch is all about making the city more bike-friendly.

However, cyclists are encouraged to avoid the area during construction.

Instead, they are asked to use parallel Schoolhill and Upperkirkgate – despite police concern about the number of motorists breaking the law there.

Technically, cyclists could use the single eastbound lane on Union Street, which will be open at all times for deliveries and emergency vehicles. But the council is urging them NOT to.

Bikes will be able to use the whole length of the street once the full stretch has been completed.

● What does the Union Street closure mean for city centre businesses?

City chiefs are stressing Union Street will be very much “open for business”.

And they are strongly encouraging residents to still make use of all of the shops in the city centre.

Pedestrians will be allowed to pass through the closed-off stretch – even though they might be forced to whirl around dug up sections of the road.

● What happens next?

Once the 300-metre strip is completed, the council will move to the next item on their long list of planned city centre upgrades.

The next would be changing the rest of Union Street, as well as the streets surrounding the new food and drink market.

Work on this is intended to begin around October 2026.

CHANGES: The Market Street to Bridge Street stretch will close. Below right: The changes intend to make the centre better for cyclists and walkers.

The site for the new food and market is ready.

This is where the roadworks will start.