North-east residents have grilled AWPR managers over “nightmare” traffic, slow road repairs and crash fears, in advance of the closure of a major road for 14 weeks.
As of Friday, the C13K Lairhillock to Portlethen road at Rothnick will close during the summer.
Transport Scotland has argued the move is necessary to enhance the safety of road users while the contractor completes the construction of a new bridge and clears the site with major earthworks.
Around 50 people, including Conservative general election candidate, Andrew Bowie, and councillor Colin Pike, packed into the sports hall at Lairhillock School for the North Kincardineshire Rural Community Council meeting.
And they forcibly expressed their concerns to bosses including Gavin Dyet and Rob Galbraith from Transport Scotland.
Henry Irvine-Fortescue, vice-chairman of the community council, opened the question and answer session which lasted around an hour and 15 minutes.
He asked: “Will the closure definitely be for 14 weeks, or has there been leeway left to finish earlier.”
Mr Galbraith responded he was hopeful the work may finish early, but weather and other factors might come into play.
Resident Diana Lawson spoke of her worries about “rat-running” and the lack of passing places on the road.
She said: “There are quite a few farmers and very few passing places. There are going to be big hold-ups on the back roads. Are any more going to be put in?
“It’s bad enough as it is without everybody using it as a rat run. It’s going to be made 100 times worse. It will be a nightmare.”
Mr Galbraith said: “We can’t just dig up land and put road there. It has to be agreed with Aberdeenshire Council. We will continue dialogue with them and look to address any issues quickly.”
Scott Smith, from Charleston, demanded answers for when roads damaged by AWPR vehicles would be repaired after holes were left in the road on the route to his house.
He added: “The damage is really bad in some areas. If you drove a sports car down my road, you would get stuck because the holes are that big. I understand damage gets done, but it can’t be left until the end before anything gets done. We can’t live like this.”
He was told by Mr Galbraith that damages were logged with Aberdeenshire Council and would be repaired.
Transport Scotland officials are expected to return to update the group in the coming months.
