This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Aberdeen ring road initiative
27/01/2003
Plans for a new western peripheral route in Aberdeen
have the support of the Executive, business leaders in the
city were told today.
At a Chamber of Commerce business breakfast, First
Minister Jack McConnell said that, in partnership with the
North East Scotland Transport Partnership (NESTRANS), the
Executive would now support plans for a dual carriageway to
the west of the city to alleviate city centre
congestion.
The First Minister said the government would fund the
strategic element of the project, with NESTRANS expected to
contribute the remaining portion.
Mr McConnell said:
"Efficient transport links are essential to help
businesses flourish throughout the North-east, moving goods
and workers around the region easily.
"Aberdeen's transport problems have been well
documented. I am sure this new road will be a tremendous
benefit to the city, help it will to remove through traffic
from the centre and take heavy traffic off rural and urban
routes.
"The Western Peripheral Route is just part of the
integrated transport solution for Aberdeen. Combined with
measures such as improved public transport and
park-and-ride in the councils' wider plans, the new road
will make travelling in and around Aberdeen quicker and
easier as well as reducing congestion and pollution in the
city centre.
"We need to see better roads and transport systems
across Scotland. Here in the North-east and elsewhere this
road will be widely welcomed."
The First Minister was speaking at an Aberdeen and
District Chamber of Commerce business breakfast in the
Marcliffe at Pitfodels.
Funding for the road - including the proportions to be
provided by the councils and the Scottish Executive - is
still to be finalised.
The partnership approach, with the Executive funding the
strategic elements and the local authorities the local
elements, is precedented in the M74 Northern Completion
scheme.
The Executive will also be keen to explore the
possibility of a public private partnership (PPP) approach,
taking into account value for money considerations.
NESTRANS is a public/private partnership - made up of
the Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council, Scottish
Enterprise Grampian and Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of
Commerce - which is working to develop an integrated
transport strategy for the North East over a 16-year
period.