Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route

A90 shield
Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route
City of Aberdeen Bypass
Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route at A96 junction (2020).jpg
AWPR (A90) Northern Leg, approaching the A96 junction at Craibstone
Route information
Maintained by Aberdeen Roads Limited
Length26 mi (42 km)
Existed2015–present
HistoryOpened: 2018
Completed: 2019
Major junctions
South end A92 north of Stonehaven[1]
Major intersections A956
(Trunk Spur)

A93
A944
A96

A947
North end A92 at Blackdog[2]
Location
CountryUnited Kingdom
Constituent countryScotland
CountiesAberdeen and Aberdeenshire
Primary
destinations		Dundee, Forfar, Stonehaven, Aberdeen, Peterhead and Fraserburgh
Road network
Maryculter Bridge in 2005, prior to the construction of the AWPR. The River Dee Crossing now stands to the east
Original Aberdeen Greenbelt Alliance protest poster

The Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR),[3][4][5][6] unofficially also the City of Aberdeen Bypass,[7][8] is a major road that wraps around the city of Aberdeen, Scotland. The road stretches north from Stonehaven through Kincardineshire and crosses both the River Dee and River Don before terminating at Blackdog. The main stretch of the AWPR is 22 miles (35 km) in length.

The AWPR also includes the 4-mile (6.4 km) A956 spur that links the bypass to the A92. The construction of the AWPR was coupled with extensive upgrades to the A90 continuing north with the 9-mile (14 km) Balmedie to Tipperty dual carriageway, supplanting the existing road which was subsequently detrunked and is now the B977. The AWPR's primary route is designated as part of the A90, with the original A90 now renamed the A92, which now connects with the AWPR at both of its ends.

The road is predominantly rural, crossing mainly through farmland and forest while skimming past built-up areas. The AWPR is legally classed as a special road by the Scottish Government. This means that the bypass is governed under motorway restrictions. The road itself is near-motorway grade with all junctions being grade-separated with adjoining slip roads (the only exception being the Cleanhill roundabout), a full-length continuous concrete step barrier, large road signage, legal prohibition of stopping and reversing alongside restriction to Class I and II vehicles, barring non-motorway traffic from using the bypass altogether. The road however lacks hard shoulders and instead includes emergency lay-bys. The regulations governing the AWPR are not those of a standard primary A-road and are very similar to those found on motorways, however the road is not classed as a motorway under its statutory instrument.[9]

The Balmedie to Tipperty road is not part of the bypass despite being built in conjunction with it and therefore not bound by the AWPR's statutory instrument, making it an ordinary dual carriageway. First announced in January 2003,[10] the road was approved by Scottish Ministers in late 2009 with the original costs estimated at between £295 million and £395 million.[11] Construction on the AWPR began on 19 February 2015. The final section opened exactly four years later on 19 February 2019.[12]

  1. ^ 56°58′41″N 2°12′33″W / 56.97798°N 2.209293°W / 56.97798; -2.209293
  2. ^ 57°13′26″N 2°04′30″W / 57.223892°N 2.075130°W / 57.223892; -2.075130
  3. ^ "Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route / Balmedie to Tipperty". Transport Scotland. 24 March 2015. Archived from the original on 17 January 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  4. ^ "Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route". Aberdeencity.gov.uk. 3 May 2016. Archived from the original on 17 May 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  5. ^ "Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route". Aberdeenshire Council. Archived from the original on 19 March 2015. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  6. ^ "Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route: Balmedie-Tipperty: Key Parties" (PDF). Transport Scotland. Retrieved 12 May 2016.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ Beattie, Kieran (2 April 2018). "Aberdeen Bypass locals voice flood prevention fears". The Press and Journal. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  8. ^ "Aberdeen bypass to open 'in April or May'". BBC News Online. 24 January 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  9. ^ Scottish Parliament. The A90 Trunk Road (Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route) (Stonehaven to Blackdog) (Prohibitions and Restrictions) Regulations 2019 as made, from legislation.gov.uk.
  10. ^ "Aberdeen gets road bypass". BBC News. 27 January 2003. Archived from the original on 1 September 2003.
  11. ^ "Aberdeen bypass given green light". BBC News. 21 December 2009. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  12. ^ "Final section of Aberdeen bypass opens". BBC News. BBC. 19 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019.