Berryden Corridor Improvement

Overview

Background

At the moment Great Northern Road, Berryden Road and adjoining streets act as a corridor between the city centre, the north of Aberdeen and beyond. The amount of traffic using this corridor means it is operating beyond its capacity leading to significant congestion and delays to journey times, for public transport and general traffic. There is also limited dedicated infrastructure for cyclists and a lack of consistent infrastructure for pedestrians. Consequently, there is a need for the Berryden Corridor Improvements Project.

Existing congestion - Berryden Road

The Project

The purpose of the Project is to improve the efficiency of the public network through improving journey time reliability, relieving congestion and improving infrastructure for walking and cycling. The improved corridor will provide a more appropriate route for traffic accessing the city; the next step towards providing a transport network to meet Aberdeen’s needs and city centre aspirations. 

A detailed appraisal of the corridor was undertaken, and a preferred option which included road widening and sections of new road along the Berryden Corridor was adopted by the Council in 2009. As the design has progressed further work, including traffic modelling, has been carried out to ensure that the Project continues to perform effectively. In December 2017 the Council resolved to progress the Compulsory Purchase Order in order to acquire land necessary to build the Project.

The Project will provide two lanes in both directions throughout the length of the corridor, widening the existing road between Skene Square and Ashgrove Road and creating a new road between Ashgrove Road and St Machar Drive. Alongside the new carriageway there will be shared and segregated infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists.

Location Plan

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Benefits

The Project will provide substantial benefits across the north of the city and beyond including:

For traffic:

• Improving journey times and connections;
• Reducing congestion;
• Enabling the rerouting traffic away from the city centre core; and
• Improving bus journey time reliability.

For walking and cycling:

• Creating a safer and more attractive footway network;
• Providing segregated and continuous cycling facilities;
• An increased number of convenient crossing facilities; and
• Improving the accessibility to the city centre, railway and bus stations.

Environmental Considerations

The Project will pass through a well-developed urban area of Aberdeen close to established residential and commercial properties with associated environmental sensitivities.

Example of drainage basin

Assessments have considered:

• Natural heritage - as the different stages of the works progress, precautions will be put in place to limit harm to sensitive wildlife.


• Built heritage - where practicable the design has sought to minimise the level of demolition within the conservation area. Where alterations are required these will be sympathetic to their surroundings.


• Noise and vibration - the Project includes acoustic fencing to mitigate the impact of traffic noise in some locations whilst balancing visual impact on properties in others.


• Water quality - to protect existing watercourses, much of the water collected from the road surface will pass through drainage basins which are intended to remove sediments and contaminants. Basins will also manage storm water to reduce the risk of flooding.


• Air quality - the Project will contribute to strategies that seek to improve air quality within the wider city centre, however modelling predicts there would be a slight adverse impact on air quality along the corridor. Traffic-light timings will be programmed to reduce vehicle emissions at the most sensitive locations.