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[KimyReizeger]

I get the feeling the bypass is something we should all be opposing. I'm not even aware of severe traffic congestion and debilitating gridlock in Aberdeen, so why build a new road that tears through more greenery and will only encourage more people to use their cars more often?

[Hugh_Jazz]

Originally Posted by KimyReizeger

I get the feeling the bypass is something we should all be opposing. I'm not even aware of severe traffic congestion and debilitating gridlock in Aberdeen, so why build a new road that tears through more greenery and will only encourage more people to use their cars more often?

You should try commuting from Dyce to Altens.

[daveofficer]

something needs to be done that's for sure but i'm not entirely sold on the bypass or it's route. i think that it's odd that they just produced this route from nowhere rather than any of the routes they'd consulted on. i also think it's a shame it's going to run through one of the nice parts of the area.

in saying that though, what other options are there? trying to persuade people to ditch their cars and take public transport is great in theory but it just doesn't work. people like their cars and want to use them. it doesn't help that buses in aberdeen are ridiculously expensive and have just gone up in price yet again.

[KimyReizeger]

Originally Posted by Hugh_Jazz

You should try commuting from Dyce to Altens.

So what happens when all that traffic is chucked onto another road? Plus the fact that more roads simply = more traffic. We're in the day and age that needs to reduce traffic, not give people better reasons to take the car. Besides, your inconvenient commute to Altens doesn't really bother me, that is a fact of life in a centre of commerce; can hardly be said to stem trade and will no doubt be an obsolete argument when the oil dries up.

What about sucking floating travellers from the city centre? Literally encouraging people to 'pass us by'.

[Hugh_Jazz]

Originally Posted by KimyReizeger

So what happens when all that traffic is chucked onto another road? Plus the fact that more roads simply = more traffic. We're in the day and age that needs to reduce traffic, not give people better reasons to take the car. Besides, your inconvenient commute to Altens doesn't really bother me, that is a fact of life in a centre of commerce; can hardly be said to stem trade and will no doubt be an obsolete argument when the oil dries up.

What about sucking floating travellers from the city centre? Literally encouraging people to 'pass us by'.

If even 10% of the traffic is transferred from city centre roads with traffic lights and roundabouts every 100 yards, onto a dual-carriage trunk road, it's surely obvious that it would markedly improve city centre congestion.

As for more roads = more traffic......how?

[Lucky Rathen]

Something definitely needs to be done, and has been needed for a long time, as mentioned before trying to get in and out of Altens at rush hour is an absolute nightmare, the whole North Deeside road is terrible, the Bridge of Don pretty much stops moving at 8am and don't even get me started on the road out to Dyce. The city centre isn't that bad it's the people trying to get to work in all the various industrial estates that have the problem.

In saying that though it's never going to happen because like every other attempt to bring Aberdeen into the 21st Century, everybody will oppose it.

[Cloud]

Originally Posted by KimyReizeger

I get the feeling the bypass is something we should all be opposing. I'm not even aware of severe traffic congestion and debilitating gridlock in Aberdeen, so why build a new road that tears through more greenery and will only encourage more people to use their cars more often?

Ultimately, the bypass is desperately needed. There's not much in the way of alternatives - if the bypass isn't built, what's going to replace it?

Public transport? Any improvements now are going to cause traffic to snarl up even more badly than it already is, unless you want to throw a ridiculous amount of money (and disruption) at providing bus-only routes into the centre. I'm not even sure where these routes could go - unless you want to build tunnels. The Deeside Line might be one interesting option - but you can guarantee that there would be massive opposition to any attempt to restore a train service from Aberdeen station to Culter or thereabouts, despite it making excellent sense.

The main, and overriding issue here is that there's no logical, quick way from north to south - Anderson Drive cuts right through residential areas and the inner ring road can't really be improved much more. Altens to Dyce is a nightmare of a journey regardless of which route you take - the bypass will end the pain in that respect very effectively. Likewise, Bridge of Don to Dyce is also a complete pain - ever driven the back road from Asda BoD to the Airport? Absolutely dangerous ratrun, and yet another reason for the building of the route.

As for the final route - I actually think it's a great route. The fastlink from Stonehaven will allow traffic to bypass the city without coming close to the city. The Murtle route would've made more sense as it is a bit far out - but it's a small compromise to get it built.

The only issue is that I suspect the junctions are going to be built on the cheap - there's word that the A90 junction at Altens will become a roundabout, which is an absolutely dreadful idea.

[Lucky Rathen]

Bring back the trams I say.

[Lucky Rathen]

One thing I've been saying for years it that one of the major reasons there's so much congestion in the city is because there isn't a rail service going up to Peterhead, Fraserburgh, Mintlaw, Ellon, Balmedie, Strichen etc. There's thousands upon thousands of people drive in from those towns every single day, because their only other option is the bus, which is slow, uncomfortable and only runs once an hour. It's the main reason Bridge of Don is so overwhelmed. If there was a wee circular rail service every half hour or so, a lot of people would use it and leave their cars at home. The Ellon Park and Ride is a good idea but the buses are just too slow, it used to take me longer getting from Ellon to Aberdeen on the P&R bus than it did to drive from Fraserburgh to Ellon to get the P&R bus.... There was a railway there before, I say put it back.

[Hugh_Jazz]

Originally Posted by Lucky Rathen

One thing I've been saying for years it that one of the major reasons there's so much congestion in the city is because there isn't a rail service going up to Peterhead, Fraserburgh, Mintlaw, Ellon, Balmedie, Strichen etc. There's thousands upon thousands of people drive in from those towns every single day, because their only other option is the bus, which is slow, uncomfortable and only runs once an hour. It's the main reason Bridge of Don is so overwhelmed. If there was a wee circular rail service every half hour or so, a lot of people would use it and leave their cars at home. The Ellon Park and Ride is a good idea but the buses are just too slow, it used to take me longer getting from Ellon to Aberdeen on the P&R bus than it did to drive from Fraserburgh to Ellon to get the P&R bus.... There was a railway there before, I say put it back.

Think you're spot on, but don't hold your breath waiting..!