Plans to use compulsory purchase orders to clear the way for a long-awaited Aberdeen roads upgrade will be reviewed this month.
Around 500 letters were sent to residents who may be affected by the £22million Berryden Corridor Improvement scheme in February.
The plan, first mooted in 2003, will involve widening the road to a dual carriageway, with associated junction improvements from Skene Square to Ashgrove Road, and a new dual carriageway built from Ashgrove Road to the St Machar Drive roundabout.
Council sources have indicated that between two and eight buildings may be bought, but that none had so far been snapped up.
Now they will review their CPO plans later this month – but furious opposition members last night called for the administration to “get on with it”.
It is currently proposed to begin construction late next year, with the scheme completed by late 2019.
Initial plans for the Berryden Corridor were bought forward in 2003, with the proposals being earmarked in the 2009 budget.
And last night local councillor Bill Cormie hit out at the ruling administration, claiming they were “at least four years behind” in the process.
He said: “Like a lot of things they take credit for the dye cast in the previous administration.
“It was us who were demolishing factories along the route to begin work.
“To leave it until this late stage is just unreal.”
Last night council finance chief Willie Young said officers were pushing ahead with the plans, adding that the authority wanted to avoid “another Don Crossing” situation.
He said: “I know there has been a lot of concern from residents recently about the traffic levels in the city.
“It’s like when you have toothache – it’s a pain until you get it fixed, then it’s pure relief.
“The previous administration took money out of their capital plans for this work so if anybody’s commitment to seeing this through should be questioned it’s the SNP’s.”
