Preparatory ground investigations have commenced on the A90 Haudagain improvement scheme, it has been announced.

The work is vital in order to provide detailed information for the future development of the scheme.

It is anticipated that this phase will be completed by the end of the year, with the draft road orders expected to be ready by summer 2015.

When completed, the scheme will have tackled the issue of a notorious bottleneck at Haudagain.

Transport Minister Keith Brown commented: "The Scottish Government has repeated many times our commitment to tackling the congestion caused by the traffic bottleneck at Haudagain, and we are determined to see a solution put in place to bring much needed relief to drivers and the nearby communities.

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"Having let local communities view and comment on the scheme's preferred route earlier this year, we are now starting the vital ground investigations which will give us the greater level of information we need to help shape the scheme's design – with a view to publishing the draft road orders in summer next year.

"A great deal of early preparatory activity is already under way on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, and we have announced a further £70 million of sub-contracts being made available, part of a £221 million sub-contract package.

"Hard on the heels of this, comes news that preparatory work for the Haudagain scheme is now under way which will ensure this improvement scheme is ready to go as soon as the AWPR is finished in spring 2018."

Soil Engineering Geoservices Ltd has been appointed to carry out the work.

Tristan Llewellyn, Director of the firm, added: "We are delighted to be taking forward this ground investigation work for the Haudagain Improvement scheme. We look forward to working with Transport Scotland over the next few weeks as we play our part in delivering this scheme for the people of the north east of Scotland."

(JP/IT)