Transport bosses have confirmed that the impact of the AWPR will be taken into account when finalising the A96 dualling project.
Plans are in place to improve the stretch past Inverurie to Huntly with a range of new routes currently being analysed.
Answering a parliamentary question, the transport secretary has said the city bypass, upcoming upgrades to the north-east east rail network and a new train station in Kintore will all be considered before rubber-stamping the work.
Aberdeenshire East MSP Gillian Martin said: “The feedback on the AWPR to date has been extremely promising and I’m glad to hear that its impact, as well as that of other infrastructure projects in the area, will be taken into account as part of the design for the A96 dualling programme.
“This is a long-awaited project which promises huge potential for the region and I look forward to its continuing development.”
Meanwhile, a North East Labour MSP has said this should open up the possibility of further routes being considered.
The option of dualling the current A96, rather than building a new road, was ruled out in 2017, but Lewis Macdonald has called for it to be placed “back on the table.”
Transport Scotland said a “rigorous assessment” was made which would mean the demolition of 19 properties and “minimal traffic benefits”.
A series of public consultations is being organised for later this year to fully explore all of the route options.
