A multi-million pound link road to reduce gridlock around Aberdeen International Airport was officially opened to traffic yesterday.
The £15.2million three-lane carriageway was commissioned by the city council to relieve pressure on the busy A96 Aberdeen to Inverness road as the city’s long awaited bypass starts to take shape.
The road is the first phase of the 1,000-space “Dyce park and choose” project and is designed to connect into the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR).
This weekend the first cars were on the £745million AWPR with the opening of the Craibstone and Dyce Drive junctions.
Council chiefs are now stepping up their own efforts at traffic-busting measures, including the £26.4million Berryden Corridor, and the £22.3million Third Don crossing which was opened in June.
The link road connects the A96 Craibstone roundabout to the Dyce Drive/International Avenue junction and it includes footpaths and a shared cycle lane and pedestrian walkway.
The scheme will also include waiting accommodation and cycle lockers, along with the 500m of dual carriageway between the A96 and Dyce Drive.
Council leader Jenny Laing said: “I am delighted the link road opened today as it will be great for commuters getting in and around Dyce and will be beneficial for people getting to the airport for their holidays or work.
“This crucial piece of infrastructure as part of the £15.2million Dyce park and choose scheme will also help to unlock the benefits of the AWPR/B-T and, along with the Third Don crossing and the Berryden Corridor improvements, it is one in the latest in a series of major projects which will improve journey times for motorists and bus passengers around the city.”
Last night the opening was welcomed by business leaders and airport chiefs.
Carol Benzie, managing director of Aberdeen International Airport, said: “It’s fantastic to see that the new link road is ready to open. We have enjoyed seeing it all come together and are delighted to now have an improved road system around the airport campus.
“This will alleviate the traffic issues which have created challenges to our passengers and employees in recent years as the area around the airport has grown significantly busier.”
Archie Blair, development manager at Abstract which is developing the 40-acre Aberdeen International Business Park on behalf of Norwegian firm Aker ASA, said he hoped the new route will stimulate more interest.
He said: “The position of the Aberdeen International Business Park, adjacent to Aberdeen International Airport, the quality of the development and the completion of the airport link road, makes this business park an obvious and logical location for major international companies.”
David Milloy, joint managing director, Miller Developments, said: “Miller Developments welcomes the significant investment Aberdeen City Council has made in the link road.
“It has been the catalyst to a number of buildings now operational with D2 Business Park and we hope that its opening will now stimulate further interest in the Dyce area.”
