This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-20121664
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Aberdeen bypass cost rises to £653m after delays | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The cost of the Aberdeen bypass has risen to an estimated £653m, it has been revealed. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | It is anticipated that construction will get under way in 2014, with completion by spring 2018. |
| 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. | |
| A scheme to make the A90 a dual carriageway between Balmedie and Tipperty in Aberdeenshire is also expected to cost £92m, giving a total of £745m for the combined project. | |
| Mr Stewart criticised the added costs caused by the legal challenges. | |
| He said: "Not only has an essential piece of infrastructure been delayed unnecessarily, but inflation has driven up costs. | |
| "Now that the legal challenges have been exhausted, we can now move towards construction as quickly as possible." |