It’s been a long road to get here, but from May 16, 2022 motorists can finally drive along the new dual carriageway link road at the Haudagain roundabout.
This milestone marks the end of the long-running project to improve Aberdeen’s most infamous traffic bottleneck.
The notorious roundabout has caused generations of Aberdonians untold headaches and late nights home over the years, and made headlines recently as the £50m improvement works were delayed time and time again.
It was back in 2017 that ground was officially broken on the project to finally improve traffic flow in the area, but the road to today’s grand opening has been as long and gruelling as getting from Bucksburn to Great Northern Road at rush hour.
A timeline of the Haudagain Improvement project and its delays
The ambitious infrastructure works were due to be finished and ready for traffic by spring 2021.
However, a great deal of setbacks caused by factors like Covid and poor weather resulted in all manner of delays.
Initial planning stages
- In June 2008, plans were first revealed for a road through Middlefield, which would bypass the roundabout.
- Two years later in August 2010, the Scottish Government approved building a bypass around the Haudagain.
- Work was not to commence until the completion of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR).
- By April 2014, initial plans were officially put on public display.
Making way for the project
- In August 2016, the local authority approved the relocation of tenants living in 130 homes, in order to make way for a new road as part of the improvement project.
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Demolition of Aberdeen flats on Logie Avenue to make way for Haudagain improvements. Photograph by Kenny Elrick from 2018. - The final plans were revealed in February 2017, before ground was formally broken on the site in the same year.
- The contract for building a new dual carriageway as part of the works was awarded in January 2019.
Covid and lockdowns hit the construction industry
- As a result of lockdown in March 2020, work was halted for almost three months.
- Initial estimations earmarked the project’s completion date for spring 2021, but in January 2021, we revealed how Covid’s impact had pushed the completion date all the way to winter 2021.
- In April 2021, Transport Scotland said it would be reviewing the timescale of finishing the Haudagain upgrades in winter 2021.
Stormy weather of winter 2021
- Come September 2021, concerns were raised that the winter timeframe would be missed, due to a burst gas main causing the closure of the A96 for more than a week, and “technical issues” being identified on the road surface.
- By December 2021, the Scottish Government confirmed that it would indeed miss the winter window, and pushed back the opening date to the end of March 2022, blaming the impact of weather.
More bad weather and Covid troubles
- And at the end of March 2022, the works were officially delayed again, with this most recent setback being blamed on poor weather and Covid.
- As of April 1, 2022, the works at the Haudagain Improvement Project are due to be finished and the new infrastructure open to traffic by the middle of May 2022 at the latest.
The ribbon is finally cut
As of May 16, motorists are finally be able to drive along the new dual carriageway link road at the Haudagain in Aberdeen, five years after work first began.
More than 180ft of new carriageway will now take traffic between the A92 North Anderson Drive and A96 Auchmill Road following completion of the £49.5million project.
At the new Haudagain Roundabout bypass which will open later on today, awaiting Transport Minister @JennyGilruth for the ribbon cutting ceremony. Yes, it is actually happening! pic.twitter.com/bJGGCAlGu5
— Kieran Beattie (@KNBeattie) May 16, 2022
Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth was present in Aberdeen to mark the opening of the new road.
She addressed the delays at the opening ceremony: “I know there have been delays to the completion of this project, which has been understandably frustrating for the local community.
“The contractors did suffer from staff shortages due to the impact of the Omicron variant at the turn of the year and I am hopeful the community will now welcome the project’s completion.
“I was delighted to cut the ribbon to open this new road, allowing the local community and road users of Aberdeen to start enjoying the benefits that it will bring to the north-east.”