Multi-million funding to take forward the design and construction of a new grade-separated junction at Laurencekirk on the A90 in Aberdeenshire has been announced by the Scottish Government.

Infrastructure secretary Keith Brown was in Aberdeen yesterday to welcome the £24 million investment as part of a package of transport commitments for the north east.

The funding will initially allow Transport Scotland to progress the design phases of the junction upgrade, taking the design through Design Manual for Roads and Bridges Stages 2 (route option assessment) and 3 (development of preferred junction option), to the preparation of draft road Orders.

Keith Brown said: “A grade-separated junction at Laurencekirk has been a long-standing commitment of the Scottish Government. We have been working hard with the two local authorities and Nestrans to deliver this much-needed scheme for the people of the north east as soon as possible.

“This significant funding boost for the scheme is a major step forward and we will now take forward the design work. There is still a lot of development work to be carried out and we will continue to work together with our partners to deliver this scheme as soon as possible bringing improved road safety and economic benefits to road users and the local community in Laurencekirk and the north Angus area.

“The funding boost for Laurencekirk is part of an extra £254m we are investing as part of Aberdeen’s City Deal, adding to our already impressive transport infrastructure investment portfolio which includes the £745m Aberdeen bypass, £170m improvements to the Aberdeen-Inverness rail line, improved road access on the A96 at Inveramsay Bridge, dualling the A96 between Aberdeen and Inverness, and preparation work to remove the notorious bottleneck at Haudagain roundabout.”