Craibstone to Stonehaven and Charleston
The Craibstone to Stonehaven and Charleston section of the AWPR opened on Wednesday 12 December.
Speaking just ahead of the opening Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said: “This new section, which will make more than 85 per cent of the project open to traffic, will immediately make a tremendous difference to road users across the north east. It will provide thousands of drivers every day with benefits including improved journey time reliability, better local access and reduced congestion, while safety will also be enhanced. "
This 32km (approx.) section represents around 55 per cent of the entire AWPR/B-T project and links to key junctions between Stonehaven in the south, Craibstone to the north and Charleston to the east.
Stonehaven to Craibstone
Stonehaven Junction
Stonehaven Junction forms the most southerly Junction between the A90 (south of Stonehaven), the A92 and the AWPR. In addition to enabling traffic to move between the A90 (south of Stonehaven), the A92 and the new AWPR, and vice versa, it also provides a connection to the B979, which links southwards to Stonehaven and northwards to Netherley.
The connection between the A90, A92 and the new AWPR takes the form of a large roundabout, which is linked to the new road by northbound merge and diverge slip roads. This roundabout is the southern terminus of the AWPR, and also has links to the B979 northwards to Netherley, and southwards to Stonehaven.
Traffic travelling south on the AWPR and wishing to continue south on the A90 will make use of the B979 towards Stonehaven, which has been widened where it passes beneath the new bridge carrying the A90 over the B979. A new traffic signal controlled junction has been installed between the A90 and the railway line, and southbound traffic can turn right to join the A90 southbound, or continue south to Stonehaven.
This junction also enables northbound traffic leaving Stonehaven to turn left to join the A90 southbound or to continue north to the roundabout and links to the B979, the AWPR or the A92 northbound. The southbound diverge from the existing A90 also connects to this traffic signal controlled junction.
Stonehaven Junction to Cleanhill Junction
The 11.5km new dual carriageway between Stonehaven Junction and Cleanhill Junction will be designated as the A90 and will provide two lanes in each direction.
Cleanhill Junction
Cleanhill Junction will provide a connection between the new A90 and the new A956 from Cleanhill to Charleston and is a large three-arm roundabout. Northbound traffic will be able to continue north towards Craibstone, or to travel east to Charleston. Southbound traffic on the new A90 will be able to continue south towards Stonehaven or to travel east to Charleston. Westbound traffic on the new A956 will be able to turn north towards Craibstone or south towards Stonehaven.
Cleanhill Junction to Deeside (Milltimber) Junction
The 4km new dual carriageway between Cleanhill Junction and Deeside (Milltimber) Junction will be designated as the A90, and will provide two lanes in each direction.
Deeside (Milltimber) Junction
Deeside (Milltimber) Junction will provide a connection between the new A90 and the A93. Looped slip roads on either side of the AWPR main carriageway will enable road users to join and leave the new A90 Deeside. These slip roads connect at a roundabout west of the new A90, approximately 1km north of the A93. A single carriageway link road connects this roundabout with a new traffic signal controlled junction, which provides access to the A93 eastbound towards Aberdeen and westbound towards Peterculter. It also provides access to the B979 southbound towards Maryculter Bridge and South Deeside Road.
Deeside (Milltimber) Junction to Kingswells South Junction
The 4.5km new dual carriageway between Milltimber Junction and Kingswells South Junction will be designated as the A90, and will provide two lanes in each direction.
Kingswells South Junction
Kingswells South Junction will provide a connection between the new A90 and the A944 via merge and diverge slip roads for both northbound and southbound traffic. The new A90 sits above a new large roundabout which is at the same level as the A944, which passes beneath the new A90 via two bridges. In addition to connections from the roundabout to the A944 eastbound towards Aberdeen and westbound towards Westhill, the roundabout includes three connections to local roads.
Kingswells South Junction to Kingswells North Junction
The 3km new dual carriageway between Kingswells South Junction and Kingswells North Junction will be designated as the A90, and will provide two lanes in each direction.
Kingswells North Junction
When this section initially opens, road users will be able to leave the AWPR at Kingswells North using the southbound slip road but will not be able to join the road using the northbound slip road at this location. The northbound slip road will remain closed while temporary traffic management measures are in place directing all northbound road users to leave the main carriageway at Craibstone Junction. This will enhance the safety of road users.
Once the AWPR fully opens to traffic, Kingswells North Junction will provide a partial connection between the new A90 and the C89C Chapel of Stoneywood Road. The junction is connected to the C89C by means of a roundabout and a link road - and the link road is connected to a northbound merge slip road and a southbound diverge slip road. Road users will be able to use this junction to travel north on the new A90, or to leave the new A90 if travelling south.
Kingswells North Junction to Craibstone Junction
The 2km new dual carriageway between Kingswells North Junction and Craibstone Junction will be designated as the A90, and will provide two lanes in each direction, with an additional third lane provided as a lane gain/lane drop between the two junctions. Road users will not be able to continue north of Craibstone Junction on the new A90 until completion of a remaining phase of the project.
Craibstone Junction
Craibstone Junction will provide a connection between the new A90 and the A96 via merge and diverge slip roads for both northbound and southbound traffic on the new A90. Access to the A90 northbound will be available when the AWPR fully opens to traffic. These slip roads connect by means of traffic signal controlled junctions to a new link road passing beneath the new A90 and connecting it with the new traffic signal controlled large roundabout on the A96 that opened to use in August 2016. This large roundabout provides a connection to the A96 eastbound towards Aberdeen and westbound towards Inverurie, as well as northbound towards Aberdeen International Airport, the A96 Park and Ride site, Kirkhill Industrial Estate and Dyce.
Cleanhill to Charleston
Cleanhill Junction to Charleston Junction
The 7km new dual carriageway between Cleanhill Junction and Charleston Junction will be designated as the A956, and will provide two lanes in each direction.
Charleston Junction
Charleston Junction will provide a connection between the A92 and the existing and new A956 via merge and diverge slip roads for both northbound and southbound traffic on the existing A90. These slip roads connect with the new A956 which passes over the existing A90 on a new bridge by means of traffic signal controlled junctions.
Road users travelling east on the new A956 can join the A92 northbound towards Aberdeen or southbound towards Dundee, or continue east on the existing A956 towards Altens.
Road users travelling north or south on the A92 can join the new A956 westbound towards Cleanhill Junction or the existing A956 eastbound towards Altens.
