Why the central Scotland traffic model has not been applied to the proposal for an Aberdeen bypass until now, how much it will cost to appl…

The area covered by the Central Scotland Transport Model has been extended gradually and since 1997 has covered from Dundee to Ayrshire. It is now intended to extend the area to Aberdeen and its environs. The extension of the model is a major exercise. The most practical and economical way to carry this out is in conjunction with other planned enhancements. This will form part of the re-tendering of the contract to maintain the model. The re-tendering is due to be completed by September.To extend the model to Aberdeen requires extensive data collection in Aberdeen and its environs, followed by an extension of the structure of the model, and finally a calibration and validation exercise for the extended model. Data collection will be carried out this month and in October.I announced during my visit to Aberdeen on 14 March that the cost of this to the Executive would be around £0.5 million and work since then has confirmed that figure.