Members of local communities are to experience the new Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) before it opens to traffic as part of the GoNorthEast 'Road Festival'.

The free, weekend-long festival will bring the community together to celebrate the transformational Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route/Balmedie to Tipperty (AWPR/B-T) project in advance of its eagerly-awaited opening.

The GoNorthEast Road Festival, on Saturday 08 and Sunday 09 September 2018 will offer visitors a range of exhibitions and entertainment within a festival style village on a section of the new road. In addition to the festival attractions, people of all ages and abilities will have the chance to cycle and walk along a picturesque part of the new road in the Dee Valley, including crossing a new bridge over the River Dee. Communities are also being offered a chance to enjoy a dedicated 18km closed-road cycle.

Visitors can also experience the history of travel in the north-east with an outdoor exhibition from Grampian Transport Museum as well as international street theatre performers and arts and crafts stalls with activities for children available throughout the weekend.

Highlights of the community festival include:

• Transport through the ages - 120 vintage and modern vehicles on display curated by local event partners Grampian Transport Museum, including the latest in electric vehicles.

• Interactive displays on new technology and engineering from Shell's Eco Marathon teams and the Greenpower Formula 24 initiative with others to be confirmed

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• A car simulator, toy car arena and lots of fun activities for children including face painting and murals created by toy cars.

• International street performers.

• Borrow a Bike will see a stock of up to 200 bicycles, including electric bikes, offered to people of all ages and abilities to borrow and travel their choice of distance along a closed 4km loop on the road.

• A Country Walk allowing people to explore a 1.8 km route to enjoy the picturesque Dee Valley.

• The GNE Cycle Experience offering a further opportunity for up to 1,500 cyclists to register to bring their own bikes along to cycle an 18km closed-road loop on the new AWPR on the morning of Sunday 09 September.

The bespoke transport festival village will feature exhibition space dedicated to the history and significance of the infrastructure project, with engineers and representatives available to speak to the public.

The free event, which is the first community festival held on a major new road project in Scotland, will be located on the new road in the River Dee valley on the boundary between Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire.

Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, said: "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for members of local communities to experience the new AWPR/B-T before it becomes fully operational and we hope to encourage as many people as possible to enter the festival spirit and participate in this free event, which includes fantastic opportunities to cycle on parts of the road.

"We know the project is a hugely important and hugely anticipated one for the region. But we also fully appreciate the construction has been impactful for people. This family festival is intended to say a big thank you to everyone for their patience. We have thought long and hard and worked with local organisations to put on a special event that reflects the wonderfully scenic aspects and sympathetic design of the AWPR and just what this road means to Aberdeen and the area."

Councillor Jenny Laing, Co Leader of Aberdeen City Council, added: "In the run up to the opening of the £745 million AWPR, there are some great events lined up to mark the occasion. This will be very much a community occasions which is truly fitting as it brings into the heart of the project, the very people that it will serve. We are justly proud of our investment and hope visitors will have a great day and enjoy their first sight of this stretch of the peripheral route."

More information about the event can be found on the GoNorthEast website: awprgonortheast.co.uk/community/road-festival.

(CM/MH)