An archaeological 'time team' has been invited to dig at the site of the Aberdeen Bypass to uncover the history of the North-East.

The £3m archaeology project will involve a team of specialists digging to reveal a glimpse of the past, while at the same time providing information for the future delivery the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR).

The archaeological works are due to begin in the summer of 2013 and take around 10 months to complete. The project will be undertaken in four sections, covering the Balmedie-Tipperty dualling project, the Northern Leg and Southern Leg of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and the Cleanhill to Stonehaven Fastlink element of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

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Small to medium businesses will have the opportunity to bid for the work, which is being carried out in segments.

Transport Minister Keith Brown said: "Just a week after I was in Aberdeen to see ground investigations resumed on the project route, our programme of on-the-ground preparatory works are being advanced significantly with the announcement of these archaeological surveys.

"It is also another example of how the project will support varied jobs, from graduates to engineers, archaeologists to geologists and administrators to accountants.

"This builds on our promise to give local and regional Scottish contractors the opportunity to play a vital role in the delivery of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route / Balmedie-Tipperty project."

Aberdeen City Council leader Barney Crockett said: "I'm sure the vast majority of people in the North-east will join me in saying how pleasing it is to see so much work being undertaken so quickly with a view to getting the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route built as soon as possible.

"All partners wanted to hit the ground running and today's announcement shows that we have done that. The archaeological works are of course essential and are just one part of the huge undertaking required to give Aberdeen and the North-east the transport infrastructure it needs and deserves."

(IT/GK)