WORKS to transform Aberdeen’s historic Castlegate are to get underway next week with preliminary activities already taking place.
The planned streetscape improvements will create an inviting civic square with a café culture and become a key link between the city centre and the beachfront.
The project forms part of Aberdeen City Council’s £150 million city centre and beach masterplan, with the works at Castlegate being led by Morrison Construction and led by hub North Scotland.
Aberdeen City Council co-leader, councillor Ian Yuill, said, “The historic Mercat Cross and the Gordon Highlanders’ Memorial will be key features of the refurbished Castlegate. The new Castlegate will have a better and safer surface, more usable spaces for people to spend time, and help reinvigorate the eastern city centre.”
Construction manager at Morrison Construction, Rod Buchan, added, “We are proud to be delivering the transformation of the Castlegate, a space that holds such cultural, civic and historic significance for Aberdeen. This project represents a major investment in the future of the city centre, and our team is committed to carrying out the works safely, considerately and to the highest quality.
“As phases progress, we will continue to work closely with, local businesses and residents to minimise disruption and ensure the community benefits from a revitalised and welcoming public space for generations to come.”
The first phase will involve the removal of existing fencing and street furniture followed by excavations to allow diversion works by Scottish Gas. The main works in this first phase will see the installation of new drainage and utility services ducting followed by the installation of new Scottish stone slabs and local granite setts.
The 340-year-old Mercat Cross in the centre of the Castlegate will be fenced off in preparation for restoration works. A golden post box erected in 2012 in tribute to Aberdeen-born Olympian Dame Katherine Grainger will also be temporarily removed. The Gordon Highlanders statue, which was unveiled on the Castlegate in 2011, will be removed and stored until the completion of the works when it will be relocated to a new position opposite the VSA bookshop.
Future phases of the work will see installing slabs and setts to first the south footway and then the north footway areas followed by new street furniture, seating, and lighting.
One of the main challenges facing the site team will be uncovering any unrecorded utility services or unknown obstructions below the surface which may cause potential delays, hub North Scotland said.
