Upgrading one of the region’s biggest roads is key to a north-east town centre’s future, say local business owners.
It comes as Transport Scotland announced a “milestone” in its £50million proposal to dual a 26-mile stretch of the A96 between Aberdeen and Huntly.
Four consultancies or joint ventures are being invited to bid for a contract to fully double the route in size as part of ambitious proposals to completely upgrade the entire road by 2030.
Locals will have to wait until 2019 before a “preferred option” for dualling the A96 Aberdeen to Inverness road is selected.
Proposals being considered by Transport Scotland for the eastern section of the road include a dual carriageway from Blackburn to just north of Huntly, passing west of Inverurie and close to the Bennachie Forest.
Another option is a smaller eastern bypass, connecting Inverurie and the Glens of Foudland.
And Ian Sinclair, owner of Sinclair’s Jewellers in Inverurie, said he hoped an eastern bypass around Inverurie would be selected as the way forward.
He added: “I think any improvements to the A96 are welcome, especially as in the long term it will be dual carriageway all the way to Inverness.
“This, when completed, will be a great benefit to commuters, residents, business, haulage and tourism for the north-east of Scotland and the sooner the better.
“Inverurie’s traffic problems still exist, as, in my opinion, we need an eastern bypass to alleviate the non-essential traffic from the town centre and, to improve the shopping experience, provide more and easier car parking.”
Judy Whyte, partner at Mitchells Dairy in Inverurie, called for Transport Scotland to reconsider the previously-touted “option Q”, which would have included improvements to the east of the town, as part of the dualling scheme.
She added: “This is a fantastic opportunity to try and address roads issues along with trunk road investment.
“Inverurie has been held back for years now, the council haven’t put extra land into the development plan for potential development because we are waiting to hear the outcome for the A96.
“At a time when we are trying to stimulate growth and investment in the area, people are being held back.”
AECOM Limited, Amey Arup Joint Venture, Atkins WSP Joint Venture and Jacobs UK Ltd have all been invited to tender for the work to the road.
Cabinet secretary for the economy, jobs and fair work, Keith Brown said: “This major contract marks a further milestone towards the dualling of the A96 with all the investment and improvements that will bring to the north-east and the Highlands.
“When this contract is awarded later this year, design work for the eastern section will step up a gear with route option assessment work getting underway.”
