Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route - Northern Leg Options

Introduction

The Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) is a central element of the transport strategy being promoted by Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire Councils with NESTRANS. It is intended not only to act as a bypass but as a distributor road, link with the Park & Ride sites, and a means of relieving heavy traffic from unsuitable rural routes and the city centre. The western section of the AWPR was investigated by Grampian Regional Council and after public consultation a route was adopted in 1996, that route having been subsequently endorsed by Grampian's successor authorities, Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire. Whilst it was always envisaged that the AWPR would extend from the A90 (T) south to the A90 (T) north, the route for the northern leg was not investigated in the mid 1990s. This is what is now being done so that it may be brought to the same status as the rest of the AWPR.

Work undertaken

The work has been undertaken within the appropriate Scottish Executive assessment framework i.e. the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) and the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB). The first stage identified constraints, selected a range of route options for comparative assessment, and set out the context of an initial stage of public consultation. From an initial consideration of over 100 possible routes, this resulted in 18 potential route options for consultation and appraisal. Officials from both Councils undertook briefings of a range of local Community Councils within the area through which the 18 route options passed. In addition briefings were given to the Area Committees in Aberdeenshire. All comments received were collated and any which highlighted particular issues relating to possible environmental or engineering constraints were taken into account in the next stage of the assessment. The following key elements of the study have been carried out:

• A set of objectives to be met and problems to be resolved prepared by the assessment team and approved by elected members. All routes have been assessed against both the problems and objectives.
• An Environmental assessment (carried out by independent consultants)
• An Engineering assessment (carried out by a joint Council in-house design team)
• A Traffic assessment (carried out by an in-house design team and independent consultants)
• An Economic "Value for Money" assessment (carried out by an in-house design team and independent consultants) 
• An Economic Activity and Location Impacts assessment (carried out by independent consultants)

The following have appropriate reports and drawings available for inspection at St Nicholas House and Woodhill House.

Environment

The initial routes for consultation have been examined in a Stage 2 Environmental Assessment which has identified the impacts which each has on sites with heritage, ecological, landscape and other environmental significance. This study has allowed the engineering and traffic impact of the routes to be considered in relation to such aspects as visual impact of junctions and embankments, crossing of flood plains, proximity to Sites of Special Scientific Interest, noise and vibration.

Engineering

All of the initial 18 route options have been examined for their engineering feasibility and been designed to be full dual carriageway standard with access at the key existing roads via grade separated junctions. This has involved balancing the impact of the works on people and the environment, the cost of providing details such as tunnels and retaining walls whilst still providing a route which will provide relief to the existing road network.

Traffic

The various route options have also been tested on the Aberdeen Sub Area Model of the Transport Model for Scotland. This is based upon survey work and also includes projections for the likely housing, population and employment forecasts for the North East. The predicted vehicular traffic flows on the existing and new route options have been used in the Engineering, Environmental and Economic aspects of the route option assessment.

Economics

One of the key aspects of the traffic modelling is to take the costs from the engineering work and produce an economic assessment of the options. This was carried out for a reduced number of options as some of the original 18 options were ruled out on basis of Environmental and Engineering concerns. In summary, an economic assessment of 5 options was carried out. All 5 of the options examined show a good level of economic benefit and are comparable with similar projects elsewhere in Scotland.

Preferred Route

After the public consultation period a report was presented to the North East Strategic Planning Committee to allow it to make a recommendation to both Councils enabling both Councils to approve a preferred route.

Links to Consultation Documents

• Main report with recommendations
• Appendix A - Consultation (Jan - Feb 2003) Findings
• Appendix B - STAG (Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance) Analysis, Appraisal Summary Table
• Appendix C - STAG Analysis, Summary of Considerations
• Appendix D - Traffic Impact Summary
• Appendix E - Map of the three scheme options
• Modern Transport System - STAG appraisal overview
• Modern Transport System - Part 1 Appraisal Summary Table
• Western Peripheral Route (Northern Leg) - STAG appraisal overview
• Western Peripheral Route (Northern Leg) - STAG appraisal summary

Maps of routes

This following pdf document presents a map of the proposed routes as well as information about the pros and cons of each route:

• Northern Map

A further plan is attached for information. It indicates the preferred corridor endorsed by Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils for the western section of the AWPR.

The Ordnance Survey mapping within this document is provided by Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council under licence from Ordnance Survey in order to fulfil their function as planning authorities. Persons viewing this mapping should contact Ordnance Survey Copyright for advice where they wish to licence Ordnance Survey mapping for their own use.

 

Contacts

• Managing Agent
  Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route
  Aberdeen Business Centre
  Willowbank House
  Willowbank Road
  Aberdeen
  AB11 6YG
  Phone: 01224 332300
  Fax: 01224 332361
  Email: enquiries@awpr.co.uk
  
  
• Transport Manager
  Aberdeenshire Council
  Woodhill House
  Westburn Road
  Aberdeen
  AB16 5GB
  Phone: 01224 665228
  
  
• Nestrans
  Information Office
  Archibald Simpson House
  27-29 King Street
  Aberdeen
  AB24 5AA
  Phone: 01224 625524
  Fax: 01224 626596
  Email: info@nestrans.org.uk