The improvements along Craigshaw Drive between the Shell Path and Wellington Road have extended the cycle network through West Tullos to Wellington Road.

Aberdeen City Council co-leader Councillor Ian Yuill said: “The new segregated route will make a difference to people who live or work in the local area wanting to walk, wheel, or cycle as well as provide more connectivity to residents in Cove and further afield.

“The new route is in line with helping residents who want to walk, wheel, or cycle around more while helping the city to its ambition to achieve Net Zero.”

The construction includes:

• New segregated cycle tracks and footways along Craigshaw Drive;
• A parallel crossing which provides a safer link to and from the existing Shell Path across Abbotswell Road.

Works on Abbotswell Road now link the Shell path to the crossing of West Tullos Road with the provision of a shared cycle track.

Parallel crossings are zebra-type road crossings allowing both cyclists and pedestrians to cross the road in parallel.

The construction of the £1.62 million project is jointly funded by Sustrans through the Transport Scotland backed Places for Everyone programme, Nestrans, and the Scottish Government through the Cycling, Walking and Safer Routes fund.

Simon Strain, head of programme for Places for Everyone, at Sustrans, said: “This fantastic project not only provides people living and working in Aberdeen with a safe and direct cycling link located just south of the River Dee, but will also improve people’s health and local air quality for years to come”.

Cabinet secretary for transport Fiona Hyslop said: “I’m pleased that the new active travel route at Craigshaw Drive is now open, alongside the improvements at Abbotswell Road. Delivered through £1m of Scottish Government investment, these improvements will remove barriers to everyday walking, wheeling and cycling – making it easier for people and communities to choose sustainable active travel for their everyday journeys. In doing so, we’re helping people to improve their health and wellbeing, save money on transport costs, all while reducing transport emissions.”

Councillor Alan Turner, chair of Regional Transport Partnership Nestrans, which contributed more than £300,000 to the works, said: “This fully segregated cycling facility is one of the first in the North East and demonstrates the ambition which will form part of a Regional Active Travel Network, currently being worked on. High quality cycling links across our towns and cities and connecting our communities is imperative.”

The work is part of Aberdeen’s Active Travel Action Plan and means Craigshaw Drive connects to the A956 Wellington Road to Abbotswell Road with the existing Shell Path joining Abbotswell Road from the north. The Shell Path provides onwards connections to existing cycling facilities including the Riverside Cycleway and the Deeside Way.

Parking of vehicles is prohibited along the full length of Craigshaw Drive. At accesses to businesses, to reinforce priority for pedestrians and cyclists, the kerb is dropped at cycle tracks and pavements to allow vehicles to cross. Pedestrians and cyclists have priority at these locations in line with the Highway Code.