Public consultation to start on Bridge of Dee access

13 May 2016

A month-long public consultation is to start next week to investigate capacity issues and potential opportunities to the existing transport network in the Bridge of Dee area of Aberdeen.

The aim of the consultation is to engage with the public on the options being considered, obtain feedback, and report findings as part of the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) Part 2 Assessment.

As well as the consultation information being made available on the Aberdeen City Council website, public exhibitions are being held at two locations in the Bridge of Dee area with questionnaires being made available for feedback.

Aberdeen City Council Transport and Regeneration spokesman Councillor Ross Grant said: “The Bridge of Dee has long been a bottleneck for motorists so it is important that this project is moving on.

“Along with the other major infrastructure projects Aberdeen City Council is investing £150million including the AWPR, the Third Don Crossing, the A96 Park and Choose and Airport Link Road, and the Berryden Corridor, this scheme should make a big difference transforming connectivity for residents, commuters and visitors getting around the city.

“We would encourage as many people as possible to look at the proposals and let us know what they think either through the website or during the exhibitions.”

The following existing and potential future traffic issues were identified in Bridge of Dee area:

The Bridge of Dee is a bottleneck with congestion during peak periods; The existing bridge road carriageway and footway widths are sub-standard with heavy hoods vehicles needing to make a 2km detour onto local roads; and Growth associated with delivery of the Aberdeen City and Shire Strategic Development plan involving additional housing and population demands will increase the number of motorists utilising the road network, potentially increasing pressure at key locations such as the Bridge of Dee.

The study identified the following objectives against which proposed options are to be measured:

Support the implementation of the current development plans by 2030 in a manner which does not result in increased journey times compared to 2010 for all classes of road users; Incorporate measures which benefit public transport and active travel and encourage modal shift from private car use; Improve safety, security, amenity and connectivity for non-motorised road users and communities within the study area; Deliver air quality and noise impact benefits in areas adjacent to the local road network by directing traffic towards the strategic road network; Recognise the importance of the River Dee SAC and the Category A Bridge of Dee and develop proposals minimize overall environmental impacts, including at these locations, to a level acceptable to the consenting authority; and Support the effective operation of the local and national transport networks, including use by traffic of appropriate distributor routes.

Three options have been identified which meet the above objectives and have been developed in consultation with stakeholder groups. These options are to be available to view at the two exhibitions, and also on the City Council’s website from 17 May.

The early stages of the study considered a large number of concepts and the appraisal process sifted out those concepts that did not meet the project objectives. The concepts being presented at this stage are those considered through the appraisal process to best meet the project objectives. The current options are:

Concept 6: A new upstream crossing is proposed with junction improvements; a new shared use cycleway/pedestrian bridge crossing adjacent to the existing Bridge of Dee; a new dual carriageway link road between Garthdee Road and A90 Stonehaven Road including the new crossing; improvements to Garthdee Road to allow two lanes in each direction; and the widening of the existing Bridge of Dee road carriageway to enable HGVs and public transport to utilise this route.

Concept 6B: Contains all the elements of Concept 6 with the addition of a new link road between Inchgarth Road and A93 North Deeside Road.

Concept 7: A new adjacent crossing is proposed with junction improvements and a new single carriageway link road between Leggart Terrace and A90 Stonehaven Road. The existing Bridge of Dee will become a dedicated non-motorised user facility.

The exhibition material is available to view on the Aberdeen City Council website in the current consultations section, under “Access from the South (Bridge of Dee)” or www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/transport_streets/roads_pavements/transport_projects/roa_access_from_south_home.asp

The exhibitions are to be held at Inchgarth Community Centre, on Tuesday 17 May from 12pm to 8pm, and at South Holburn Church on Wednesday 18 May, from 12pm to 8pm.

The consultation runs from 17 May 2016 to 17 June 2016.