The first stretch of the new Aberdeen bypass has taken a step closer to opening.

A temporary road order covering the 7km section of road, between Goval and Blackdog, will come into force on Monday. This will enable the new section of road to open any time once complete after Monday.

Final preparations and checks are now being carried out ahead of opening the stretch of road, which will help cut journey times and improve safety for motorists in the area.

Once these checks are complete an opening date for the section will be confirmed.

The new junctions will help roads users travelling to and from Newmachar, Oldmeldrum, Fyvie, Turiff, Bucksburn, Bridge of Don and Dyce.

It will also help improve travel times for people in Ellon, Peterhead and Fraserburgh, heading towards Aberdeen airport and the west of the city.

A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: “We are continuing to work with the contractor, Aberdeen Roads Limited, to open new sections of road as they become available.

“We are now at a stage where we are able to publish a road order for a seven-kilometre section between Goval and Blackdog and are confident that this will open in advance of the rest of the new trunk road, which is scheduled to open in late Autumn 2018.

“When we are able to confirm when this section can open to traffic, we will inform road users and local communities across the north east at the earliest opportunity, who have been very understanding while these works have been under way.”