Cracks have appeared on an underpass taking motorists under a busy road – just three weeks after it opened.
As part of the dualling works between Balmedie and Tipperty, an underpass has been built to allow local residents to safely cross the A90 Aberdeen to Peterhead road to get to their homes.
But farmer James Duthie has already noticed some “worrying” fractures on the roof of the structure.
The fractures spread across the full width of northbound carriageway, and Mr Duthie has called for an independent survey to be carried out.
Last night, Transport Scotland confirmed the “defects” had been identified, and that repairs will be carried out.
Mr Duthie, whose land was split in two by the new road, asked for the underpass to be built so he could safely and easily access his fields – avoiding a seven-mile roundtrip.
Aitkenshill Farm straddles the Balmedie to Tipperty stretch of new road, part of which opened to traffic last month.
Motorists have been using the northbound carriageway with southbound traffic also using one lane.
Mr Duthie said: “The fractures have only appeared underneath the northbound carriageway.
“I just noticed them the other night – there are six cracks that run the full width of the roof – and they all seem to be seeping out a white liquid.”
After making the discovery, Mr Duthie went to check another underpass which is further south of his land at South Orrick.
He said: “I found that there were cracks in that one too – but they have all been plastered over.
“I think they should be making sure or give some kind of guarantee that these are not dangerous – it’s quite worrying.
“If this was on the Forth Road Bridge they’d have shut it down by now. I think an independent surveyor should come and take a look at it – we don’t want to get to the stage that once it’s all opened they have to go back in and close
it all to make more repairs.”
Mr Duthie contacted local MSP Peter Chapman, who has now visited the site and written to contractors Aberdeen Roads Ltd to address the issue.
Last night Mr Chapman said: “Constituents had asked me to look into reports of cracks at two newly opened underpasses.
“I went to visit the farm last week to look at both and could clearly see there was already damage.
“I’ve written to Aberdeen Roads to ask them to fix the issue.”
A Transport Scotland spokeswoman said: “It is not unusual for minor defects to appear during the construction of major infrastructure projects.
“The defects in question have been identified as a result of the rigorous quality control processes which are utilised across the project and the contractor will undertake any necessary remedial works, at no extra cost to the taxpayer.”
