More than a dozen roads damaged during construction of the AWPR have still to be repaired.
Heavy goods traffic was a familiar sight on rural routes throughout the four years it took to complete the 36-mile, £1 billion bypass, which runs from Stonehaven to Tipperty.
A number of roads not designed to cope with the volume of lorries required for such a major project were left badly scarred as a result of the construction work.
Many were left with pockmarked surfaces as the abnormal loads tore chunks from the tarmac, creating large potholes.
Transport Scotland has since paid out cash to Aberdeenshire Council to help bring roads back up to scratch, but 17 routes have still to be fixed.
Of those, 15 are in the Kincardine and Mearns area and the other two in Garioch.
It is hope they will be repaired this financial year.
Among the worst-affected stretches is the Lairhillock to Portlethen road, which connects the latter to the Netherley Road.
It was branded a “war zone” by council road experts, having become one of the key routes for HGV traffic during the construction of the bypass.
It deteriorated to such a state that the owners of the Lairhillock Inn claimed it had dealt a major blow to trade.
They said customers were abandoning plans to travel there as there were so many potholes on the road. The restaurant was subsequently put up for sale.
An Aberdeenshire Council spokesman said: “We received a two-stage payment for patching repairs and one for structural maintenance works to routes affected by construction traffic.
“Some of the repair works were completed in the Kincardine and Mearns area by us last year, with the AWPR Construction Joint Venture undertaking works in the Formartine area.
“The remainder of works associated with AWPR traffic will take place this year as part of our maintenance programmes.”
Peter Chapman, North East MSP, said: “There is no question that the huge level of construction traffic caused considerable damage to local roads.“
Transport Scotland has, quite rightly, agreed to foot the bill for repairs.
“However, it will take time for all of this work to be carried out.
“Drivers will have to show patience while the damaged routes are fixed.”
