Bridge demolition works to begin on A90 at Stonehaven
Demolition works are expected to begin on the Stonehaven bridge which carries the A90 southbound carriageway over the B979 Netherley Road from week commencing Monday 3 April, as part of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route/Balmedie to Tipperty (AWPR/B-T) project.
Between Monday 3 April and Friday 7 April, the contractor is planning to cut the existing bridge into two sections, separating the northbound and southbound carriageways. These works will assist with the demolition of the southbound carriageway. For safety reasons, the B979 between New Mains of Ury and Glenury Road will close from 8pm until 6am each night to allow these works to take place.
On Friday 7 April, this road is again planned to be closed from 8pm until 6am on Monday 10 April, it is anticipated that the southbound A90 carriageway will be demolished using specialist plant including breakers. Reconstruction works will then begin.
Diversions will be signposted. Road users heading north from Stonehaven should travel via B979 David Street, Allardice Street and then the A957 Bridgefield, Dunnottar Avenue up to Glasslaw junction. They should then turn right onto the A92, known locally as the Coast Road (Dunfermline to Stonehaven Road), which leads to the A90.
Road users heading south into Stonehaven should travel via the B979 New Mains of Ury before turning left to join the A90 heading north towards Aberdeen. They should then leave the A90 at the Newtonhill flyover junction and re-join the A90 heading south, taking the first exit to Stonehaven, the U90K Den of Logie Road.
A contraflow, which has been in place on the A90 since March 2017, will remain in place while these works are underway. The existing A90 northbound slip roads will also remain open throughout the works but will be subject to speed restrictions, local realignments and occasional overnight temporary traffic lights.
A Transport Scotland spokesperson said:
“These essential demolition works at Stonehaven have been planned to take place when roads are quieter to minimise inconvenience to road users.
“The traffic management measures in place will enable part of the bridge carrying the A90 over the B979 to be demolished and then reconstructed safely. Once the southbound bridge has been re-built, the contraflow currently on the northbound carriageway will move to the new southbound carriageway to allow the remainder of the existing bridge to be demolished and reconstructed.
“The works at Stonehaven will also involve widening the B979 Netherley Road; the construction of new slips roads to and from the A90; and the creation of a new roundabout, which will form the junction between the AWPR, the A90 and the B979.
“These demolition works are taking place in close proximity to the A90 northbound carriageway, which will remain open. We would like to remind them to apply more caution than usual when driving near these works.
“Road users should also observe the 50mph speed restriction on the A90 and all road signage to enhance their safety, as well as the safety of others and allow more time than usual for their journey. They may also find it useful to plan their journeys in advance by reviewing the general traffic management information on the AWPR/B-T project site and both the Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council websites for detailed information on local roads.”
Further information on upcoming weekend road closures of the B979, between the railway bridge and the existing A90 bridge, will be announced in advance.
When complete, the AWPR/B-T will help to reduce congestion, cut journey times, improve safety and lower pollution in Aberdeen City Centre. It will also enable local authorities to develop public transport solutions.
Over the next three decades, the AWPR/B-T is expected to bring in an additional £6 billion to the north-east economy and create around 14,000 new jobs. Around 1,500 are currently working on the project, including on-the-job training for apprentices and local employment opportunities for long-term unemployed people.