A specially-commissioned set of landscape shots by a top Scottish photographer aims to demonstrate the significance and scale of the recently completed Aberdeen bypass.
The photographs – 12 in total – were taken by renowned landscape photographer Colin Prior at various stages during the final months of construction on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR).
Transport Scotland said they ‘highlight the various new vistas opened up by the 36-mile route’.
The 'New Perspectives' exhibition will be on display over nine weeks from late May until late July and is the final part of the year-long GoNorthEast campaign, launched last summer by project partners Transport Scotland, Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council to highlight the benefits of the £745m project.
The exhibition ‘makes the thematic link between the new, often stunning, views of the surrounding landscape from the road with the new perspectives it realises for doing business in the region,’ Transport Scotland said.
Mr Prior said: ‘Photographing a construction project of this scale is challenging, so I was pleased to be the first photographer to be given access to closed sections of the route while work was ongoing.
‘The vistas and scenery surrounding the project have made for some special photos which I think capture some of the new perspectives afforded to the North-East because of the project’s development.
‘These images demonstrate the significance and scale of the AWPR and also the beauty of the surrounding landscapes in the area and I hope the people from across the North-East get the chance to enjoy them.’
Douglas Laird, Transport Scotland’s AWPR project manager, said: 'The GoNorthEast campaign has been a successful way of focusing attention on the many economic, environmental and safety benefits the AWPR brings. While the construction period was inevitably disruptive for some, it was important to remind people that a significant prize was within reach for the region.
'Bringing a photographer of the stature and unique eye of Colin Prior on board was inspired by the new views of the region the project team were seeing out on site and the sympathetic way the road has been designed to harmonise with the environment as much as possible.’
The exhibition will be free to view at Aberdeen Central Library from 21 May until 7 June; at Ellon Library from 10-28 June; and Stonehaven Library from 1-19 July.
