A north-east MSP has claimed dither and delay has resulted in the cost of making improvements to a notorious Aberdeen roundabout nearly doubling in the last seven years.
Labour’s Richard Baker said the Scottish Government had been left “red faced” because it was solely to blame for the Haudagain roundabout improvements works increasing from around £14.5millon to about £26million.
He said the rise was due to SNP ministers refusing to upgrade the A90/A96 junction until after the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (Awpr) bypass is completed in 2018.
This means work at the Haudagain is likely to begin in 2019 at the earliest.
Details of the cost were revealed in a parliamentary question answered by Transport Minister Derek Mackay who said the £14.5million price tag, which excludes Vat, was based on May 2007 prices while the £26million figure was based on 2014 prices, excluding land and Vat.
Mr Baker said: “What this shows is that the failure of Scottish ministers to progress this project ahead of the Awpr as I had called for repeatedly has ended up costing the taxpayer over £11million in construction costs alone.
“However these costs only scratch the surface of the true price that has been paid in the north-east given the Institute of Directors estimated back in 2008 that the hold ups cost our local economy £15-30million each and every year that ministers refused to take the project forward.”
A Scottish Government spokesman dismissed the criticism.
“We have committed time and again to delivering the Haugagain improvement scheme and to start construction as soon as the Awpr is finished in spring 2018, bringing much needed relief to drivers and the nearby communities,” he said.
“As the work is predicted to reduce traffic levels on the existing A90, it is important to await completion of the Awpr before commencing work at Haudagain to avoid making the existing traffic congestion worse.”
The spokesman said it was necessary to review the initial cost estimate prepared by Aberdeen City Council in 2007 and the updated construction cost was based on current prices.
“The scheme cost estimate will continue to be refined and updated as the detailed design develops,” he added.