The contractor to build Aberdeen’s bypass was today revealed.

Transport Minister Keith Brown unveiledConnect Roads as the preferred bidder to deliver the project during a visit to the North-east.

The firm, a consortium of Balfour Beatty, Galliford Try (Morrison Construction) and Carillion, will work on the 745 million Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and Balmedie/Tipperty project.

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Mr Brown was at the Findon junction on the A90 Aberdeen to Dundee road, where advance works for the project are already under way, to reveal the preferred bidder.

He said: “Following the Supreme Court ruling, we said we would complete works on the AWPR scheme by spring 2018. The announcement today ensures we remain well on course, with the contract expected be awarded and construction starting in earnest before the year is out.

“This is great news for the people of Aberdeen and the north-east and underlines our commitment to reversing years of under investment which has led to the kinds of pressures we see on the road network in and around Aberdeen every day.

“Over the next three decades, our investment in the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route project is expected to bring in an additional 6 billion to the local economy and create around 14,000 new jobs. During construction we would expect to see benefits similar in scale to the recently completed M74 scheme, which directly generated 900 construction jobs. It will also provide on-the-job training for apprentices and local employment opportunities. “AWPR advance works are well underway with small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) from the north-east already benefiting a contract worth nearly half a million pounds for the construction of a local connecting road here at Findon Junction is just one case in point.

“Very few EU countries have a higher level of spending in their SME sector than Scotland. SME’s represent some 37 per cent of the economy, and get a 46% slice of the 10 billion public procurement spend every year, so are already successful in competing for public contracts.

“We want to see more of this success across Scotland, including the north east. Our commitment to improvements at the Haudagain Roundabout once the AWPR is finished, a new Inveramsay Bridge on the A96, and a longer term 3 billion commitment to dual the key route between Aberdeen and Inverness – will all support local businesses and the economy across the region, and well as deliver tangible improvements – up to 27 minutes off journey times – for the thousands of drivers who use the roads across the north east.”