A time extension has been agreed between Aberdeen City Council and main contractors Balfour Beatty for delivery of the new £18million Third Don Crossing due to unexpected delays with re-routing underground utilities.
The contract completion date for the project will be delayed by seven weeks and have an expected contract completion date of March 2016. This includes the two-week break over the Christmas/New Year period.
Aberdeen City Council Finance, Policy and Resources Committee vice-convener Councillor Ross Thomson said: “I am disappointed that the re-routing of utilities to the AWPR means that work above and around the immediate area is delayed.
“However, due to the huge size and scale of the project – which is Aberdeen’s biggest major new bridge infrastructure for 30 years since Queen Elizabeth Bridge – it is not a surprise that some unexpected issues do crop up from time to time.
‘The City Council is strongly and robustly encouraging utility companies to avoid unnecessary diversions.
“Work and progress is continuing at a good rate over the rest of the site and once the bridge is open, people at both sides of the River Don will see a tremendous difference getting around the city. After 30 years, finally Aberdeen is getting the bridge it needs and deserves and this administration is getting the job done.
“Along with other major projects which Aberdeen City Council is investing in including the AWPR, the A96 Park and Choose and Airport Link Road, and the Berryden Corridor, getting around the city will be transformed.”
Balfour Beatty is the main contractor for the Third Don Crossing.
The project requires the construction of two major bridges, with the first being a 26m skew span reinforced concrete bridge over the Mill Lade at Grandholm Village and the second a 90m span steel box girder bridge over the River Don.
The Third Don Crossing will see the construction of a new single carriageway link road between the Parkway/Whitestripes Road junction and the Tillydrone Avenue/St Machar Drive junctions, including the construction of the new bridges.
Work on the project – which includes the bridge structure and 1.5 miles of connecting roads on both sides of the River Don - started in August 2014 and the expected contract completion date is March 2016.
The bridge beams were lifted into place in July by a specialist 1,000-tonne crane, and work on the remaining part of the project including continuing work on the reinforcement of the bridge structures, painting inside the steel box girders, along with constructing new roads, pavements and cycle ways currently taking place.