Utility firm Scottish and Southern Electric has moved on to the phase three leg of its work in Aberdeen city centre to lay three under road power cables for the new retail development at Guild Street.

Scottish and Southern Electric is carrying out the utilities work, which began on Market Street and will continue through up Virginia Street and along Mearns Street to the sub-station at Commerce Street.

Phase three, which is expected to take approximately two weeks, will involve working from Guild Street through onto Virginia Street. Westbound traffic will be diverted while this is done.

The beginning of work on phase three of the project means traffic travelling towards Guild Street from the east will have to follow the diversion signs southwards to Market Street, North Esplanade West, and South College Street.

Traffic for Guild Street travelling west should go via Commerce Street, East North Street, King Street, and Market Street.

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Trinity Quay, which is often referred to as Virginia Street, has been reduced from three lanes to one lane for southbound traffic. It is anticipated that this situation will continue until the end of next week.

Phase one of the work on Market Street continues meantime, but it is anticipated that Market Street will be cleared for north and southbound traffic by the end of this week. Two lanes will be available thereafter for northbound traffic, with the additional right turn filter lane into Virginia still closed.

Phase two will involve moving onto Guild Street from Market Street, and onto Virginia Street. This will involve partially closing the junction for southbound traffic travelling from Guild Street and the north section of Market Street onto Virginia Street. That will be done on Sunday, 24 August when traffic flow is lightest. Diversions will be put in place for traffic affected by the closure.

The diversion will be via Virginia Street, Commerce Street, the roundabout junction of Commerce Street and East North Street, and back via Commerce Street and Virginia Street onto Market Street.

Phase four will involve the overnight closure of Virginia Street for one to three nights, to allow the Scottish and Southern Electric staff to lay the cables across the road.

Phase five should see the final stages of work on Virginia Street being carried out. This will take approximately four weeks.

Phase six is the final stage, in which will move onto Mearns Street and ultimately onto Commerce Street.

The utilities works are causing delays. Fixed signs have been erected on the Ellon Road and at the Bridge of Don to advise motorists to avoid the area and that delays are expected due to the utility work being carried out.

Variable message signs on the A90 will also advise motorists of the anticipated delays and to avoid the area.

(GK/JM)