A start date for the long-awaited work on Laurencekirk flyover will be confirmed soon.

Transport Minister Humza Yousaf made the commitment to take action over the accident black spot to Holyrood’s rural economy and connectivity committee after questioning by MSPs.

The Scottish Government pledged £24 million to improve the junction on the North-east’s busiest road to coincide with the North-east’s City Region Deal in January this year.

But uncertainty shrouded the scheme in June when former Transport Minister Keith Brown suggested it could take up to a decade to build.

Mr Yousaf said: “Yes, we are not only committed to the upgrade but we have announced £24 million for construction.”

Committee convener Edward Mountain pressed Mr Yousaf and said: “Some target dates would be very helpful, subject to a fair wind, for when they can expect to see shovels in the ground.”

Mr Yousaf agreed to write to Mr Mountain in the near future with an explicit commencement date for the A90 junction upgrade.

Meanwhile, the committee agreed the active petition will remain in place until a date is provided.

North-east MSP Mike Rumbles, Lib Dem, said the announcement of a date would not be before time.

Mr Rumbles said: “This is very welcome news indeed.

“The campaign to improve road safety at the Laurencekirk junction started over a decade ago, when the Liberal Democrat Transport Minister Nicol Stephen put it at the top of the agenda for funding in 2006.

“But since the SNP came into power in 2007 it has fallen foul of backtracking and broken promises and temporary measures installed in 2006 are still in place.

“I am very much looking forward to the Minister’s confirmation of a start date for the work.”