The project by WM Donald includes a package of junction improvements and road widening measures and there will also be shared and segregated facilities for pedestrians and cyclists alongside the road.

The main changes to the area include:

• An additional traffic lane along South College Street between Bank Street and the Wellington Place;
• An additional lane on Palmerston Place;
• A new traffic signal controlled junction at the intersection of Palmerston Place/ North Esplanade West;
• The alteration of the existing traffic signal-controlled junctions at the South College Street/Wellington Place junction and the South College Street/Millburn Street/Palmerston Place junction adding additional approach lanes and improving operational coordination;
• New and altered walking and cycling infrastructure along the South College Street and Palmerston Place;
• Reconfigured parking and loading areas on South College Street between Millburn Street and Riverside Drive.

Aberdeen City Council operational delivery committee convener Councillor Miranda Radley said: “We welcome the start of work on this big infrastructure project.

“Making these improvements is the next step towards providing a transport network to meet Aberdeen’s needs, including our city centre and bus priority aspirations, as well as improving traffic flow in the area and encouraging more walking and cycling.

“We look forward to seeing the construction work progress in the coming months.”

When complete, the project will support the City Centre Masterplan’s infrastructure strategy for bus priority measures aimed at removing the impact of congestion on bus journey times through the city centre. It will also enable the implementation of public realm enhancements along Guild Street and Union Street, providing alternative options to accommodate the rerouting of vehicular traffic. The project is jointly funded by Aberdeen City Council and a grant from the Scottish Government’s Bus Partnership Fund.

As part of the Roads Hierarchy which is changing access to and around the city after the bypass (AWPR) was built, South College Street and associated roads will have an important role in providing a key route to the city centre as well as facilitating bus priority measures nearby.

The Scottish Government Bus Partnership Fund has given a grant towards the improvements.