Aberdeenshire motorists faced with 37 mile detour

The A944 at Tillyfourie is being resurfaced. Picture: Google Maps

Drivers travelling on the main road between Alford and Aberdeen were today faced with a detour of up to 37 miles as resurfacing work began on a section of the A944 in Aberdeenshire.

Regional transport body Nestrans is funding the work to improve a stretch of the road at Tillyfourie, about five miles from Alford, which is being carried out by Aberdeenshire Council.

As a result the road will be closed to traffic for the next two weeks between 9am and 5.30pm between Tillyfourie and Whiteley, Tough.

Northbound traffic is being re-routed 37 miles onto the A96 at Port Elphinstone, while southbound drivers face a 25 mile detour via Tornaveen.

Local shopkeepers in Alford, a regular stop for tourists heading from Aberdeen to Strathdon and the Cairngorms, have criticised the council’s decision to close the road completely during busy tourist days.

Roz MacGregor, who owns the popular ice cream shop in the village’s Main Street, said she was concerned that drivers heading North from Aberdeen would give the village a complete miss while the road works continue.

She said: “It’s shocking. I just don’t understand why the council didn’t think of doing the resurfacing work at the beginning of the school holidays when it was the local trades fortnight around here and everywhere is quiet. This closure is bound to hit the number of tourists and visitors passing through Alford, especially folk heading from the Aberdeen direction.

“My concern is that folk are going to give Alford a miss rather than make a round trip of more than 70 miles.”

She said the massive detour would also affect a number of local villagers who work at oil company offices at Westhill on the outskirts of Aberdeen.

Danielle Allan, who owns the Alford Bistro, said the detour would “definitely affect” her trade. She said: “We get a lot of folk coming here for meals from Aberdeen, especially in the holidays. It is the main road leading to Alford that’s being dug up and it’s the busiest road around here. Our trade will be damaged and it will cause problems getting our supplies in as well.

“I’d say about half of our trade is from Aberdeen, so this will cause us significant problems.”

But Graeme Barber, who own the local butcher’s shop in Alford’s Donside Road, said: “I think it will have 50/50 impact on my business.”

He explained: “I think we will lose out on the people from the Aberdeen side who normally shop with us because they won’t do the detour. But hopefully many folk from Strathdon and that sort of area will stop in Alford to do their shopping rather than going all the way to Westhill or Aberdeen.”

One local resident said: “How anyone could believe a detour that will take 45 minutes to drive for a section of road that would normally take only four minutes to drive is an acceptable solution is beyond me.”

Local councillor John Latham, said: “It’s an unfortunate inconvenience to commuters but hopefully everyone can bear with it, and it will be finished in as short a time as possible.”

Philip McKay, Aberdeenshire Council’s Head of Roads and Landscape Services, said: “We always have to thank motorists for their patience throughout the summer when we’re carrying out essential roadworks and for their understanding when any roads have to be closed.”

He added: “The necessary detours are significant while this section of the A944 is closed during the working day but the work will make a big improvement to the road – motorists are advised the detour will add to their journey time.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused and appreciate travellers’ cooperation.”