MAJOR works upgrading part of a Scottish city’s main street is set to start this month.
Constriction works worth £20 million are to include more pavement space and an entrance for a new market building alongside city streetscaping on Union Street.
The work beginning on April 29 – set to be complete in autumn 2025 –s is hoped to not affect businesses as access will continue to all shops and businesses for pedestrians, as well as access for delivery vehicles.
Artists are also drawing up the final impression of the new £40m food and drink Aberdeen market site, expected to be finished by summer 2026.
SNP council co-leader Christian Allard said: “The upgrading work to Union Street Central is an opportunity to create attractive new streetscaping which will complement the new market building.
“The works are being carried out using local or Scottish materials which will help the economy as well as help to reinstate the central role of Union Street by making it more attractive.”
Union Street central area will be closed to traffic between Bridge Street and Market Street and buses will be diverted via Schoolhill and Guild Street.
Works will move east to west (from Market Street to Bridge Street) with works information and colourful boarding surrounding the closed-off area.
In May or June, parts of Hadden Street and the East Green are expected to be fenced off.
The area is being split into three sections of 100 metres each, with each phase of work starting in the first 100m on east side (closest to Market Street) before moving on to the second section and then the third (closest to Bridge Street).
The works for the first few months in Aberdeen will include:
- trial holes dug in the road to find exact locations of utilities;
- removing all street furniture on the south side then the north side;
- removing the road surface;
- installing drains, gully traps, ducting, and kerbing.
There will also be works carried out by utility companies at the same time replacing and upgrading existing utilities when the road is opened up.
Works are due to be completed, depending on what is uncovered by utility companies, weather, and world-wide availability of materials.
Source: The National
