The opening of the new £49.5 million Haudagain bypass has been met with scepticism from Aberdeen haulage companies – with one boss branding it a “waste of money”.
More than 180ft of new carriageway opened to traffic today between the A92 North Anderson Drive and A96 Auchmill Road following years of delay.
However, Dyce Carriers boss Jason Moir believes the work should’ve been carried out 10 to 20 years ago and doesn’t believe it will improve business for hauliers.
Mr Moir said: “I feel like it’s too late and should’ve been done years and years ago.
“With the bypass the way it is now and the big push to put all heavy traffic on the bypass rather than through the centre of town, I honestly feel like it’s a waste of money.
“That’s my own personal view.
“As far as commuters who stay in the area I can’t speak for them. But for a business in Dyce most of our traffic now goes through the bypass.
Impact of low emission zone in Aberdeen
Mr Moir believes the new low emission zone (LEZ) will also have an impact on haulier businesses.
The LEZ, planned by Aberdeen City Council, will have strict criteria on what kind of vehicles can enter it, as it is intended to improve air quality for Aberdonians.
It is planned to cover all of Union Street and extend from Albyn Grove in the west of the city centre to Commerce Street in the east.
Transport Scotland says it expects LEZs to be introduced in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen by May 31.
But Mr Moir believes it’s going to have a knock-on effect for traffic in the Altens area.
He said: “If you are going to the docks from Dyce it’s a long way round to Altens.
“But that’s what they [Aberdeen City Council] want to be funnelling. The Low Emission Zone is basically going to funnel all the traffic to the docks from the Altens end.
“People in Altens who want to head into town will have to deal with all the heavy traffic going to the docks.”
New bypass ‘won’t make a difference’
Altens-based Freeland Freight Services quality manager Philip Sutherland also doesn’t believe the new bypass is going to make any difference to the way the transport company operates.
He said: “I’ll be intrigued to see the transport time from Dyce to the quayside but I don’t think it’ll be massive.
“During the day it was normally alright but come the end of the day it was hectic.
“Our drivers have just completely avoided there the whole time it’s been shut. It’s always been a nightmare situation.
“If they are coming from Dyce to the quayside you do prefer to see them coming through the town but it’s the time it takes.
“All the drivers prefer to use the bypass although it adds about twice the mileage on.
“I just don’t think we will ever use the drive. It’s not going to make a difference.
“Certain vehicles of ours won’t even get round the corner of Market Street with the low emission zone.”
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