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Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route

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Coordinates: 57°08′16″N 2°14′49″W / 57.13782°N 2.24697°W / 57.13782; -2.24697
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Milltimber Bridge in the centre of this picture, where the road will cross the river Dee
Aberdeen Greenbelt Alliance protest poster

The Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR),[1][2][3][4] unofficially also the Aberdeen bypass,[5][6] is a major infrastructure development proposed to take place on the outskirts of Aberdeen, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. First announced in January 2003,[7] it was approved by ministers in late 2009.[8] Construction began on 19 February 2015.

It has been supported by the two local authorities and by NESTRANS, the statutory Regional Transport Partnership for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

The dual carriageway is projected to cost £745 million[9] and create an alternative route from north to south Aberdeen, bypassing the city. Currently the only dual carriageway route from north to south is through the city itself, along the original 1930s bypass, Anderson Drive, which is unsuitable for heavy goods vehicles as they cannot cross the Bridge of Dee at its south end. The city has long since expanded beyond Anderson Drive, and a bypass for Aberdeen was first proposed in 1952. In 2012, following lengthy legal delays, the project was approved and construction began in February 2015 and is due to finish by Christmas 2018. Delay in completion expected due to fault being discovered in underpass.

The project also now includes an upgrade of the A90 between Balmedie and Tipperty, further north to dual carriageway.

Congestion relief

The proposed development has been designed to have a positive impact on traffic along routes which are congested during rush hour, particularly Aberdeen's Anderson Drive, King Street and Union Street.

Other intentions of this project would be a slight reduction in traffic congestion on the bridges into central Aberdeen, which is sandwiched between the River Dee and the River Don, by reducing heavy goods vehicles that do not need to enter the city itself.

There will also be a reduction in the volume of traffic heading towards Aberdeen Airport, the adjacent industrial estates at Dyce and the new Aberdeen International Business Park. Aberdeen City Council constructed a new six-lane Airport Link Road (ALR) to connect Aberdeen Airport and the business park with the A96 and AWPR, which opened late 2016.

Local economy

It is argued by some that the road is important to keep the economy active.[10]

Controversy

Given the number of objectors, a public local enquiry (PLI) was held in 2008-2009 although its limited remit was controversial. The PLI recommended adoption of the route[11] and Scottish Ministers approved the route, and it was passed by resolution of the Scottish Parliament on 3 March 2010. Thereafter an appeal was made to the Court of Session based on a number of points, including the limited remit of the PLI. The appeal was dismissed[12] and a further appeal was made to the appellate division the "Inner House" of the Court of Session. This also failed.[13] A yet further appeal was made to the UK Supreme Court. This appeal also failed to overturn the decision to proceed with the route.[14]

Construction

On 19 October 2012 a notice was published advising the market that expressions of interest for contractors to construct the route would be made in early 2013 with a view to start construction in late 2014.[15] The initial shortlist of four preferred bidders was reduced to three with the withdrawal of the Scotia Roads Group consortia in September 2013.[16] This left Granite City Roads (Macquarie Capital Group Limited: Vialia; Iridium; Keir Project Investment Limited), North East Roads Partnership (Cintra Infraestructuras, S.A.; John Laing Investments Limited) and Connect Roads (Balfour Beatty Investments Limited; Carillion Private Finance (Transport) Limited; Galliford Try Investments Limited) as the remaining bidders.[17] Keith Brown (Scottish Transport Secretary) also advised that the scheme may open in stages where possible in an effort to relieve existing traffic, with the announcement of the preferred bidder for the contract expected in mid-2014.[18]

The official estimate of the cost of the AWPR was initially £295 - £395 million,[19] although figures now being reported in the press are in the region of £653 million.[18] Transport Scotland quoted the scheme at £745 million in 2012 prices.[20] Contracts for associated preparation works were announced on the Public Contracts Scotland website.[21]

Contract award was announced on 11 June 2014, with Connect Roads, advised by Pinsent Masons,[22][23] named as the preferred bidder.[24][25] Advance works were already under way, with Scottish Transport Secretary Keith Brown making the announcement of the winning bid from the site of works at Findon Junction.[25][26] A series of public exhibitions around Aberdeen and Shire in June 2014 were also announced by Transport Scotland, to inform the public about progress, advance works, the route and environmental aspects.[27] An £8m "pre-start works agreement" was announced between Transport Scotland and Connect Roads,[28] with the bidder starting fencing, environment surveys and ground investigations ahead of the main works contract commencing later in the year. Other site clearing works and environmental works, such as the relocation of protected badgers, also continued.[29]

Final completion of construction was anticipated in the second half of 2017, shaving around 6 months off the original construction timescale.[30] The Craibstone interchange was expected to be completed in late 2016 along with the Balmedie to Tipperty section a few months later.[31][30][32][33] Main sub-contracts for the construction phase were published on the Public Contracts Scotland website, with most indicated to begin January 2015.[21][34][35] Transport Scotland also added a current activity page to their AWPR/B-T area, which detailed ongoing works on the project.[36]

Stonehaven campaigners raised concerns over the proposed design for the interchange of the existing A90 dual carriageway and the new Fastlink section of the AWPR. A local farmer offered land for free to support an alternative design for the interchange, but Transport Scotland said changes at this point would add delay and jeopardise the now late-2017 completion date due to road orders and other legal instruments having already been made. They also said the alternative design had been considered and discounted by the design team.[37]

Financial close on the project with the winning bidder, now known as Aberdeen Roads Limited, was achieved on 15 December 2014.[38][39][40] It was also announced that lifetime costs for the project (Aberdeen Roads Limited will construct and operate/maintain the route for a period of 30 years) were down by £220m, thanks to innovative new features like a more durable long-life road surface.[41][42] It was also announced that the consortium would be bringing forward the scheduled completion dates for the Craibstone and Dyce Junctions by Autumn 2016 and the Balmedie to Tipperty section by spring 2017, following requests from stakeholders.[43] Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, along with Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure Keith Brown, Aberdeen City Council Leader Councillor Jenny Laing and Leader of Aberdeenshire Council, Cllr Jim Gifford, attended the site at Balmedie on 16 February 2015 to perform the ceremonial ground-breaking and officially kick off the start of the works programme.[44][45][46][47][48]

The main site office was constructed at Stonehaven, with a local firm successfully tendering for and providing the temporary accommodation units.[49][50][51] Clearance works for the Balmedie site office were performed during the official ground breaking ceremony and First Minister visit, with the first overhead line safety systems being erected and Flannery Plant heavy machines preparing for works start.[52] The first major traffic management systems for the works included a new 30 mph limit around the Dyce/Goval/Parkhill area roads,[53] and traffic lights and lane closures on the A93 North Deeside Road at Milltimber Brae during May and June to allow for trial digs and utilities re-routing work.[54][55] Aberdeen Roads Limited published its first Project Update newsletter in Spring 2015, detailing current and future works and traffic management measures.[56]

Cost overruns on the project were a contributing factor to the January 2018 collapse of Carillion. Connect Roads joint venture partners Balfour Beatty and Galliford Try became jointly liable for additional cash contribution totalling between £60m and £80m; Balfour Beatty estimated a cost of between £35m and £45m,[57] while Galliford Try sought to raise £150m and cut its dividend to support its balance sheet claiming Carillion's collapse had "increased the group's total cash commitments on the project by in excess of £150m".[58] Carillion's collapse and weather interruptions have delayed completion of the project; in March 2018, Balfour Beatty said the project would open in Autumn 2018.[59] In August 2018, Balfour Beatty said its liabilities on the Aberdeen project had risen by a further £23m and were forecast to reach £135m.[60]

The first section, a four-mile (7km) stretch between Parkhill and Blackdog, opened in June 2018.[61]

In May 2018, Aberdeenshire Council said it would seek compensation from the Balfour Beatty/Galliford Try joint venture for "significant damage" caused to some local roads by transport of thousands of tonnes of materials to the AWPR site.[62]

References

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  2. ^ "Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route". Aberdeencity.gov.uk. 3 May 2016. Archived from the original on 17 May 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 19 March 2015. Retrieved 21 April 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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  5. ^ Beattie, Kieran (2 April 2018). "Aberdeen Bypass locals voice flood prevention fears". The Press and Journal. Retrieved 7 April 2018. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |newspaper= (help)
  6. ^ "Aberdeen bypass to open 'in April or May'". BBC News Online. 24 January 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2018. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |website= (help)
  7. ^ "Aberdeen gets road bypass". BBC News. 27 January 2003. Archived from the original on 1 September 2003. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ "Aberdeen bypass given green light". BBC News. 21 December 2009. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  9. ^ "News". Transport Scotland. Archived from the original on 4 December 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ "Group calls for roundabout change". BBC News. 14 August 2006. Archived from the original on 23 August 2006. Retrieved 23 April 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ "Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route". Scotland.gov.uk. 4 March 2010. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 12 May 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ "WILLIAM WALTON+JOHN WEIR FRASER+MRS MAGGIE FRASER AGAINST A DECISION MADE BY THE SCOTTISH MINISTERS DATED 21 DECEMBER 2009 FROM THE DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORT v. , 11 August 2011, Lord Tyre". Scotcourts.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 27 May 2013. Retrieved 12 May 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 3 May 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. ^ "Judgment : Walton (Appellant) v The Scottish Ministers (Respondent) (Scotland)" (PDF). Supremecourt.uk. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 July 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 9 October 2006. Retrieved 18 November 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. ^ Fitzpatrick, Tom (18 September 2013). "Bidders down to three on £745m Scottish road schemes | News | Construction News". Cnplus.co.uk. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ "Strategy". Transport Scotland. 3 January 2014. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ a b "BBC News - Aberdeen bypass: Sections could open 'ahead of schedule'". BBC News. Archived from the original on 18 February 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ [1] [dead link]
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  21. ^ a b "Documents by Category". Public Contracts Scotland. Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  22. ^ "Pinsent Masons advises on £745m Scottish Connect Roads win". Legalbusiness.co.uk. 13 June 2014. Archived from the original on 4 June 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  23. ^ "Shepherd and Wedderburn advises funders on Scottish aspects of £745m Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route /Balmedie to Tipperty NPD Project | Shepherd and Wedderburn". Shepwedd.co.uk. 18 December 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
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  29. ^ Chris Foote. "Badger setts to be destroyed to make way for Aberdeen AWPR bypass - Aberdeen & North - News". STV News. Archived from the original on 13 August 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
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  35. ^ "Aberdeen bypass subcontracts advertised". Theconstructionindex.co.uk. 12 November 2014. Archived from the original on 13 May 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  36. ^ "Road". Transport Scotland. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  37. ^ "AWPR junction will have to be "rebuilt" in five years". Pressandjournal.co.uk. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  38. ^ "Carillion consortium achieves financial close on £550 million Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route/Balmedie to Tipperty project". Carillion plc. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  39. ^ "Aberdeen peripheral route attracts infrastructure investors to Scotland from across globe | Allianz Global Investors United Kingdom". Allianzglobalinvestors.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 June 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
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  41. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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57°08′16″N 2°14′49″W / 57.13782°N 2.24697°W / 57.13782; -2.24697

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