A significant milestone has been reached for the B999 Shielhill Road junction upgrade project following the launch of a tender to appoint a main contractor.

The planned scheme is designed to deliver substantial road safety benefits and improve visibility whilst retaining existing traffic capacity at the junction. The scope of work involves carrying out improvements to the junction itself, widening the verges on Shielhill Road, and removing the tight bend on the B999.

Specifically, the reconfiguration of the junction will involve:

• Realignment of more than 300m of the B999 to remove the tight bend immediately north of the junction by introducing a relaxed curve to the east of the current B999;

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• Reconfiguration of the B999/Shielhill Road junction;

• A culvert extension on the east of the existing culvert at the Burn of Mundurno to accommodate the realigned carriageway;

• Widened verges on the B999 to improve visibility.

Additionally, targeted road visibility improvements will include:

• Removal of the dry stone wall on the northern side of Shielhill Road over the extents of the double bend;

• Widening of the verge on the northern side of Shielhill Road over the extents of the double bend;

• Regrading of slopes within the field on the northern side of Shielhill Road over the extents of the double bend.

Council Co-Leader Councillor Ian Yuill said: “Improvements to the B999 and Shielhill junction will make a real difference to both drivers who use the road and local people who live in the area.”

Finance and Resources Committee convener Councillor Alex McLellan said: “This is an important step in the project, and I look forward to seeing the main contractor appointed, and works commencing in the months to come. I know how important these junction improvements are to residents, and we are moving the project forward to deliver the improvement works.”

Interested main contractors can now access the tender documents via the Public Contracts Scotland website.