Major section of AWPR to open tomorrow

11 December 2018

The Craibstone to Stonehaven and Charleston section of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) will open early tomorrow morning.

This significant new section of road, which includes the A90 between Stonehaven and Craibstone and the A956 between Cleanhill and Charleston, will give north east road users access to around 20 miles (32km) of new road.

A phased approach will be used by Police Scotland to open the junctions. Initially starting at Craibstone being open to traffic, with Stonehaven, Charleston, Deeside, Kingswells South and Kingswells North (A90 southbound exit slip road only) following shortly thereafter. Cleanhill Junction, which links the new A90 with the new section of the A956 will also open as part of this process. For safety reasons, there will be no access to the northbound AWPR from Kingswells North until the final section of road is complete.

The contractor has confirmed that it is targeting a December completion date for the River Don Crossing, but that this is subject to a range of factors including weather conditions.

A route for traffic travelling between Craibstone and Parkhill has been agreed with the local road authorities, which will be in place until the works at the River Don Crossing are complete and this remaining section opens to traffic. Road users should travel east from Craibstone using the A96, then northbound onto the A92 until they reach Blackdog Junction where they can re-join the AWPR to Parkhill or continue north on the new A90 Balmedie to Tipperty section. The reverse journey should be used for those wishing to travel south to Craibstone.

New permanent traffic signals at Stonehaven, Charleston, Deeside, Kingswells and Craibstone will become operational overnight before the new sections open to road users. The traffic signals will be monitored to ensure the junctions are operating as anticipated, and there may be a requirement to alter the timings of the signals until the optimum phasing are achieved.

These new sections follow road openings between Balmedie and Tipperty, in August 2018, Parkhill and Blackdog, in June 2018, and the Craibstone Roundabout and Dyce Drive section, in September 2016.

A drone video of the road can be viewed at https://www.transport.gov.scot/progress-update/craibstone-to-stonehaven-and-charleston/.