Major Repair Works Begin on A90 Brechin Bypass — One of Scotland’s Most Repaired Roads

Extensive repair works have begun on the A90 between St Ann’s and Keithock, with road restrictions set to remain in place until 19 December.

The latest scheme focuses on one of Scotland’s most frequently repaired road sections — the Brechin bypass — as part of continuing efforts to address its long-standing surface issues.

Contractors have started what has been described as “more extensive” maintenance on the northbound section of the Dundee to Aberdeen dual carriageway, which has been the subject of regular patching for decades.

The bypass, which opened over 30 years ago, has suffered from persistent problems due to its aging concrete surface. Frequent patch repairs have left the road uneven and bumpy, earning it the local nickname “the Guitar Hero road” — a reference to the frets of the popular music video game.

The current phase of work will include slip lane closures and contraflow systems, causing some disruption for motorists throughout the duration of the scheme.

Over £1 Million Spent in Recent Years

According to figures obtained through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, more than £1 million has been spent on repairs to the Brechin bypass in just the past few years.

Breakdown of costs includes:

• April 2023 – February 2024: £310,877 (inspection and concrete repairs)

• February – March 2024: £195,622 (southbound concrete repairs)

• February – April 2025: £367,228 (slip road resurfacing)

• June – July 2025: £135,000 (visual surveys, drainage and barrier work)

However, the precise total for the four-mile stretch remains unclear.

Calls for Full Resurfacing

North East Scottish Conservative MSP Liam Kerr has long campaigned for a complete resurfacing of the bypass, arguing that patchwork repairs are only a short-term fix.

In 2021, Transport Scotland officials acknowledged there was no long-term strategy in place to address the recurring issues. Earlier this year, new repairs were required after a series of tyre damage incidents on the northbound carriageway.

Mr Kerr recently questioned Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop in the Scottish Parliament, asking for a detailed breakdown of expenditure specifically related to the Brechin section.

Ms Hyslop responded:

“The cost of repair work on the A90 between St Ann’s and Keithock junctions, near Brechin, is not available. This is because expenditure is not recorded for specific sections of the trunk road. Instead, costs are collated and reported as a total spend for the A90 as a whole.”

She added that the A90’s operating company, Amey, conducts twice-weekly safety inspections and annual walked surveys, ensuring defects are repaired in line with contractual standards.

Over the past decade, spending on the A90 route from Edinburgh to Fraserburgh has exceeded £166 million.

Mr Kerr said the latest figures highlight a lack of meaningful investment in the Brechin section:

“The Scottish Government keeps insisting vast sums are at the ready to repair the constant potholes and terrible state of the road. That doesn’t tie up with these official figures, which show how little is actually being invested in it.“It shows a piecemeal approach to resurfacing rather than a decent outlay to fix the road once and for all.”