A busy section of an Aberdeen commuter street has closed to traffic for a month as work progresses on the new £333million AECC.
Motorists are being warned of delays on Dyce Drive after its closure today, with a diversion in place on the southbound carriageway between Wellheads Drive and the A96 for approximately four weeks.
But access to the airport will still be possible from Dyce Drive, and the link roads at Craibstone and Wellheads Drive.
South and eastbound movements will also be available via the link road, or from Wellheads Drive/Stoneywood Road.
This is to facilitate works by BT which will allow Robertson Construction to create a new access road between Dyce Drive and the new arena and conference facility, which is scheduled to open in 2019.
Aberdeen City Council, its development partner Henry Boot Developments and main contractor Robertson Construction are in the process of delivering the new Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre facility at Bucksburn, which will open in 2019.
The new AECC arena will have a maximum capacity of 12,500 and, in conjunction with the conference halls and subterranean multipurpose space, will provide an exhibition space far greater than the current AECC.
This will allow it to compete nationally and internationally for new events, as well as by broadening the appeal of the north east to a global audience.
The new venue is expected to contribute an additional 4.5million visitors, £113million of visitor spend and £63million to the Scottish economy.
It is hoped that leading names in music will now venture north of the big arenas in the central belt and that the new AECC will host Offshore Europe in future years.
Joe McMenamin, project director of Robertson Construction, said: “With work planned to start on July 12, we encourage commuters to look into alternative routes and consider public transport in order to minimise disruption to their schedules.
“Delays are likely as a result of the work and we apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
Council transport spokesman Ross Grant added: “As part of the ongoing development of the new AECC, it is necessary for some restrictions to be in place.
“The newly upgraded Dyce Drive link road will help in the flow of traffic, but we would ask commuters to remain patient and build more time into their journey for the duration of the restriction.”
