The first section of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) has opened to traffic.

Drivers can now use the Craibstone and Dyce Drive junctions on the A96 at Aberdeen Airport - making it the first part of the long-awaited city bypass to become operational.

A roundabout has been built to form a new Craibstone junction, while an older roundabout has been replaced with permanent traffic lights to form the new A96/Dyce Drive junction.

Craibstone roundabout will connect with the AWPR dual carriageway once it opens, as well as with the new Airport Link Road, which the council say will open on Monday.

Economy secretary Keith Brown said: "We can confirm that the first section of the AWPR/B-T works, the Craibstone and Dyce junctions, is now open and operational.

"I'm sure this news will be appreciated by local communities, road users and businesses in the north-east and across Scotland who have been extremely patient while these works were undertaken.

"Early benefits from the project are becoming a reality with improved road safety in this area and better journey time reliability which will help improve and enhance travel in the local area.

"The north east economy needs every stimulus that can be provided and our investment in this project is expected to bring in an additional £6bn to the north-east economy and create around 14,000 jobs over the next 30 years.

"We can look forward to the full benefits of these works starting to be realised when the road opens in winter 2017."

Aberdeen City Council also welcomed the news.

Council leader Jenny Laing said: "The opening of the Craibstone and Dyce junctions is a significant step in the AWPR/B-T project.

"We look forward to the AWPR/B-T's completion and unlocking the benefits it will bring to the city and the wider region."

The £745m AWPR project will substantially cut journey times through Aberdeen and see the Balmedie to Tipperty stretch of the A90 turned into a dual carriageway.

It is scheduled to be completed by winter next year, and is expected to bring £6bn to the local economy.

Work on the route was temporarily halted in June due to concerns over a build-up of silt in rivers around the bypass after heavy downpours.