Aberdeen City Centre and Beachfront Master Plan Update

9 March 2026 

Advance notice – Union Bridge closure from 23 March 2026

As part of the Union Street Central streetscape upgrade works, Union Bridge will be closed to non-emergency vehicles from Monday 23 March 2026 to allow work to proceed on that area of the project site.

Only emergency and refuse vehicles will be allowed access from 23 March until the project completion. The existing restriction at the Belmont Street junction will remain in place and access from Back Wynd will be closed until 7 July 2026 at the earliest.

The bridge was originally completed in 1805 and carries a weight restriction. To safely conduct the works, the site cabins currently on the bridge will be relocated to St Nicholas Street before the closure.

The aim is to complete the works as quickly and as safely as possible, minimising disruption, hence the need to limit vehicular traffic. Emergency vehicles and refuse vehicles will be allowed essential access.

Non-emergency vehicles entering the restricted area may be subject to enforcement. Businesses should note the new delivery arrangements below and advise their delivery companies.

Pedestrian access will be maintained, and the public are advised to follow the marked safe routes through the works area. Access to businesses and premises will be maintained during trading hours.

The Back Wynd taxi rank will be temporarily relocated to the Little Belmont Street junction from 23 March. Taxi access from Back Wynd to Union Street is currently planned to reopen by the beginning of July, once paving works in front of St Nicholas Kirk and a new bellmouth are completed.

The upgrade works to the Union Bridge will be delivered in phases and the pace of the sequencing of the work may be affected by any unexpected conditions found below the current street surface.

The indicative timeline for the work at present is:

23-24 March: Traffic management and fencing installed to secure a safe working area.

April: Existing bridge deck surface removed to allow structural surveys and preparation of the concreate deck. Structural strengthening and waterproofing works along the south footway.

May: Remainder of the bridge deck prepared for final waterproofing with new paving and kerbs installed on the south footway. New Belmont Street pedestrian crossing installed.

May to completion: New kerbs installed on the north footway, followed by construction of the new cycle-path base and final paving on the southside frontage.

There are several delivery points for businesses located on both the south and north footways and can be seen on the map below. The arrangements are:

Delivery arrangements south footway:

• Businesses on Union Bridge delivery vehicles can use two temporary loading bays on Union Terrace.
• Businesses between HMV and Primark will continue to receive deliveries via the Trinity Centre service access at The Green.
• Other businesses up to Back Wynd stairs on the South footway can take delivery via the stairs, alternatively a temporary loading unloading bay will be available at the junction from Back Wynd onto Union Street.
• Between Back Wynd Stairs and Correction Wynd Stairs, deliveries may be made via The Green or across Union Street from Back Wynd.
• Between Correction Wynd and Market Street, deliveries can be made via The Green, Correction Wynd or Union Street East.

Delivery arrangements north footway:

• For businesses between Union Bridge and Belmont Street delivery access will still be available via Denburn Road
• For businesses located between Belmont Street and Back Wynd delivery parking will be available at the end of Belmont Street or Back Wynd
• For businesses between Correction Wynd Stairs and Market Street delivery access is maintained via Correction Wynd, St Nicholas Street or Union Street beside Sports Direct.

Anyone with any questions or queries can contact the works site team on streetscape-market@morrisonconstruction.co.uk .