South College Street in Aberdeen partially reopens as work continues

Traffic lights at the new junction on North Esplanade West have also been switched on, allowing drivers to turn right into Palmerstone Place.

By David Mackay and Denny Andonova

June 20 2023, 6:20 pm

A section of South College Street has reopened following a £7m resurfacing project. Image: Denny Andonova/DC Thomson.

A section of South College Street in Aberdeen has reopened after months of roadworks.

Motorists are once again allowed on the section from Wellington Place to the Millburn Street and Palmerston Place junction.

However, it is still expected to be next month before the remaining southern section of South College Street leading to Riverside Drive can be used again.

Traffic signals have also been switched on to allow drivers to turn right from North Esplanade West into Palmerston Place at the new junction.

South College Street will reopen from its junction with Wellington Place to Millburn Street. Image: Kath Flannery/DC Thomson.

Drivers exiting Palmerston Place are only able to turn left on to North Esplanade West.

A second left turn lane from Palmerston Place will come into use during the autumn following further utility works.

What changes are coming to South College Street?

Plans to improve South College Street have been on the cards for nearly 20 years but work only began in summer last year.

Since then, there have been a series of road closures as part of a £7 million project to ease congestion on the busy road.

Road widening works and new routes for pedestrians and cyclists are part of the project to help ease the flow of traffic, especially for buses.

Congestion has been made worse during the recent South College Street works due to roadworks across Aberdeen.

A view down South College Street, where roadworks have been ongoing since last June. Image: Kath Flannery/DC Thomson

The main changes at South College Street include:

Another traffic lane along South College Street from Bank Street to Wellington Place
Another lane on Palmerston Place
A new traffic signal-controlled junction between Palmerston Place and North Esplanade West
Changes to parking and loading areas on South College Street from Millburn Street to Riverside Drive
Alterations at the existing traffic light-controlled junctions between South College Street and Wellington Place, as well as the one further south between South College Street, Millburn Street and Palmerstone Place, which include new approach lanes.