The Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route/Balmedie-Tipperty project is set to be completed ahead of schedule.

The ambitious £745m project also involves dualling the Balmedie to Tipperty stretch of the A90 carriageway.

Initially, work on the bypass had expected to be completed by spring 2018, but this date has now been brought forward to the winter of 2017.

Welcoming the news, Keith Brown, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities, commented: "This is unprecedented. Since overcoming all the legal challenges back in October 2012, we have done all we can to accelerate the procurement and construction of the AWPR/B-T.

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"Following the shortest procurement processes for a contract of this size and complexity – it has been just 23 months since the contract was put to the market – we have now been able to also bring the completion date forward to winter 2017.

"Our investment in this project is expected to bring in an additional £6 billion to the north-east economy and create around 14,000 jobs over the next 30 years, including more than 1,000 jobs for the construction industry.

"There will also be tangible benefits for the business community and road users with better journey time reliability and reduced congestion."

(JP/MH)