Aberdeen City Council has issued a compulsory purchase order to buy around 100 plots of land and move forward with the long-awaited Berryden Corridor improvement project.
The local authority hopes the scheme, once completed, will work alongside a number of other major road projects in and around the city such as the AWPR, the Diamond Bridge over the River Don and the Airport Link Road and to drastically improve traffic flow across the region.
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It’s hoped the multi-million pound Berryden Corridor project will be complete by 2020.
The expansive raft of infrastructure improvements which the council plans for the area are designed to reduce congestion in Berryden, which has historically been plagued with lengthy traffic queues during peak hours.
It would involve widening the existing road and improving junctions between Skene Square and Ashgrove Road, in addition to the construction of a new road between Ashgrove Road and Kittybrewster roundabout.
Today’s CPO, if it is confirmed by the Scottish Government, would allow the city council to purchase the land required for the full scope of the project.
The local authority already owns or controls around 80% of the land needed for construction to commence.
Councillor Ross Grant, its transport spokesman, said: “The Berryden Corridor improvement project will be a major upgrade to the roads network in the area and for the whole of Aberdeen, and will benefit motorists, cyclists and pedestrians locally and from further afield.
“Along with improving our roads network to make it easier for residents and visitors to get around the city, the scheme will also further support wider network policies such as realising the benefits of the AWPR and the City Centre Masterplan.
“The compulsory purchase order is another step in the process of building the road, so it is to be welcomed at this stage.”
Last year, the city council commenced ground investigations for the new road, and empty garage buildings on Powis Terrace were demolished to make way for it.
It aims to submit a formal planning application for the project early next year.
Councillor Alex Nicoll, the SNP group’s city growth spokesman, questioned last week if work on the project could be finished by the early estimate of 2020.
He said: “Although I’m glad we appear to have kicked the administration into action, we can’t forget that just a matter of days ago, we were told the project may not be complete or another five years.”
