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Aberdeen bypass cost rises to £653m

(15 posts)

  1. crowriver
    Member

    Aberdeen bypass cost rises to £653m

    The cost of the Aberdeen bypass has risen to an estimated £653m, it has been revealed.

    The 28-mile road - previously predicted to cost £347m - was given the green light by Scottish ministers in 2009, but was delayed by legal action.

    Protesters lost their appeal to the Supreme Court earlier this month.

    Transport Minister Keith Brown said the "unwanted delays" had resulted in a "substantial increase" in the overall cost of the project.

    It is anticipated that construction will get under way in 2014, with completion by spring 2018.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-20121664

    Posted 12 years ago #

  2. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Never saw that coming. A cost increase? Really. Ah well, at least there won't be any more. Or any more delays to the construction. Can't see that happening. Ah, it'll be such a utopia to drive past Aberdeen when it's finished, and Aberdeen itself will becomae a haven free of the motor car where sheep frolic in the streets...

    Funnily enough I drove through Aberdeen twice this weekend heading north to see family. A Saturday, getting towards midday, on what was actually a really nice day at that point, and not a single hold up going round Anderson Drive (the old alleged bypassy type road). Sunday coming home took the coastal route, and once again breezed through the city (the only blackspot is the turn into the new(ish) Union Square shopping centre - they really didn't think through thats ection at all.

    Aberdeen is daftly clogged to get into around 8 till 9am , and 4 till 6pm it's the same trying to get out. Just how on earth is the bypass going to stop people commuting into the city???

    On a side note, drove past the completed entrance to the 'Trump International Golf Links' (it has a big sign declaring it so) but resisted the urge to swear. I was proud of myself.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  3. crowriver
    Member

    Ah well, at least there won't be any more. Or any more delays to the construction. Can't see that happening.

    Yeah, it'll never end up costing a billion. No chance. They'll start hiding the costs in other budgets if that looks likely. Y'know, like they're doing with the second Forth road bridge.

    Still I suppose an extra 300 million (or maybe more, who knows?) is worth it so wee Eck can get home that bit quicker from Bute House. Saves on the helicopter bills, eh?

    Aberdeen is daftly clogged to get into around 8 till 9am , and 4 till 6pm it's the same trying to get out. Just how on earth is the bypass going to stop people commuting into the city???

    I don't know how you can entertain such sacrilege. The great god Traffic Flow decreed in his tablets of Tarmac that "Unto each city, town, village and hamlet shall thee bestow a bypass." Bypasses are the answer to all traffic problems, everyone knows that!

    Posted 12 years ago #

  4. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Another Scottish roads project costs zillions more than expected? What a surprise. Yet the Hootsman still expends most of its "transport" article ink upon bashing the Borders railway, which it is so dead-set against.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  5. kaputnik
    Moderator

    In answer to a parliamentary question lodged by Aberdeen Central SNP MSP Kevin Stewart, Mr Brown said the scheme had been costed at £347m in 2008 - an estimate based on 2003 prices.

    He said that the figure had now risen to £653m as a result of "scope changes, the inclusion of standard risk costs and rebasing to 2012 prices".

    Mr Brown said inflation had been responsible for a £230m increase in the cost.

    So what Mr Brown is saying is that they sold the bypass to everyone based on prices they knew were 9 years old, and then after it is going ahead they re-base the costs to current level and hey-presto! you get a 66% increase on inflation alone.

    What part of this am I not getting?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  6. chdot
    Admin

    "
    Damien Henderson (@DamienHenderson)

    29/10/2012 12:11

    Cost of AWPR and Balmedie to Tipperty schemes rises to £900m including VAT

    "

    Posted 12 years ago #

  7. Morningsider
    Member

    The revised price is based on the price as of today. However, the road will be built between 2014 and 2018. Inflation to 2018 could easily add another £100m or so to the eventual cost, a total cost around £1bn is possible.

    Also, I see that the answer to the Parliamentary Question that these media stories are based on states:

    "Over the next three decades, the project is expected to bring in an additional £6 billion to the north east economy and create around 14,000 new jobs."

    A new road will create 14,000 new jobs. Really? I hope the Government publishes the fag packet that this calculation was made on so it can be subject to a suitable level of derision.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  8. Arellcat
    Moderator

    Unless the Government already intends to publish that information within 20 working days, why not send an FOI request?

    Inflation is always a handy get-out-of-jail card to make things sound cheaper than they actually are. Normalise a set of costs against inflation and you inevitably get that useful phrase "in real terms". So the bypass will probably cost >£1b in future monies, but that's ok because a house will cost £500,000 on average and a big pizza will top £25.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  9. chdot
    Admin

    "
    Scottish Greens (@scotgp)
    07/05/2013 14:20
    AWPR to create 14,000 jobs? Councils' share of the cost capped? Fantasy figures.

    http://www.scottishgreens.org.uk/news/show/6819/aberdeen-bypass-figures-fantasy-say-greens

    "

    Posted 11 years ago #

  10. crowriver
    Member

    Transport Minister Keith Brown said:

    “The benefits of the AWPR and Balmedie are clear, with the scheme expected to deliver 14,200 jobs in the north east and boosting the economy to the tune of £6 billion over the next 30 years. After years of delay, we should not underplay the need to ensure the pace in delivering this vital project continues.

    “These two latest developments are great news for everyone involved in the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route. They clearly demonstrate the welcome progress made, in a relatively short period of time, since the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal last October.

    “The Industry Day held in January this year received high interest from some of the world’s leading construction companies with over 150 delegates from 60 different organisations.

    “The AWPR will improve journey times, reduce congestion and help open up wider markets for the regionally and nationally important economy of the north-east delivering benefits of both local and national importance.

    “Alongside FRC and the M8 M73 M74 Motorway improvements, the AWPR/B-T project is one of a number of major transport projects being taken forward by the Scottish Government.”

    ...

    The project is being delivered under an NPD model, ensuring best value for taxpayers money. The successful contractor will be required to deliver on the job training for apprentices and local employment opportunities.

    Oh that's alright then.

    http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/news/AWPR-Balmedie-tipperty-funding

    Posted 11 years ago #

  11. kaputnik
    Moderator

    The Industry Day held in January this year received high interest from some of the world’s leading construction companies

    Indeed. The noise of "kerching, kerching, kerching" could be held in board rooms around the globe.

    Still, cost per mile seems to be about half that (originally intended) for the tram. Must seem like a bargain to Keith when he's doing the transport budget on his Fisher Price abacus.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  12. HankChief
    Member

    https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeen/1495332/cyclists-will-be-first-to-experience-the-new-aberdeen-bypass/

    "Cyclists are being given the chance to ride on the new Aberdeen bypass before they are banned from the road when it opens."

    Posted 6 years ago #

  13. wangi
    Member

    Another "special road" motorway in disguise.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  14. Murun Buchstansangur
    Member

    Ay caramba!

    'Aberdeen bypass bill soars past £1bn as battle over taxpayers' cash ramps up'

    https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/taxpayers-asked-fork-out-millions-13692616

    Posted 5 years ago #

  15. gembo
    Member

    Bargain

    Posted 5 years ago #

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