Goval to Blackdog section of AWPR to open this week

A 7km section of the new Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route between Parkhill (Goval) and Blackdog Junctions is expected to open this Wednesday, 27 June, delivering a range of benefits including improved safety, local access and journey time reliability.

Blackdog Junction opened to traffic in May 2018 and is already improving access to Belhelvie, Potterton, Blackdog and Blackdog Industrial Estate. The link with Parkhill Junction will further improve access to local areas and the trunk road network to the north of the city, for instance between Dyce and Bridge of Don.

The speed limit for this section of road will be 70mph with a reduced speed limit on the approach to the slip roads at the junctions.

Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work, Keith Brown said:

“I am pleased to confirm that a new 7km section of the A90 between Parkhill and Blackdog will open this week. I am sure this news will be appreciated by local communities, road users and businesses in the north east who continue to be extremely patient while these works are being undertaken.

“The Parkhill to Blackdog section is the first section of the AWPR mainline trunk road to open and is the most substantial section of the project to open to date. We said we would open new sections of road when possible, and we have stood by that commitment.

“These new junctions and section of road will provide thousands of drivers every day with a range of benefits, including reduced journey times, improved journey time reliability, better local access and reduced congestion, while safety will also be enhanced. Indeed, once the new road opens in its entirety, drivers will also have improved links to the north and south of Aberdeen, as well as to local areas.”

Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Jenny Laing added:

“The opening of the 7km Parkhill to Blackdog section is a further significant step in the AWPR/B-T project. The completion of the AWPR/B-T later this year will bring enormous benefits to the city and region and as a whole and Aberdeen City Council is proud to invest £75million into what is one of the major infrastructure projects that will boost the North East’s economic potential still further.”

Leader of Aberdeenshire Council Cllr Jim Gifford commented:

"This is exactly the sort of news that the people of Aberdeenshire have been waiting for. This road building project is on such a large scale that opening sections as and when they are ready makes absolute sense. By working with our partners we have been able to deliver this significant investment, which will have transformational benefits. We look forward to the full opening later this year.”

The whole road is due to open to traffic later this year but there is no firm date for the opening yet