Work on an Aberdeen traffic scheme is “highly unlikely” to proceed without some residents being forced to sell their homes, roads chiefs said.
The city council will debate next week whether to draw up compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) to allow work to go ahead on the Berryden Corridor improvements.
But officers are also being urged to keep investigating the “voluntary acquisition” of properties which stand in the way by convincing the current owners to sell up.
A report prepared for a meeting of the full council on Wednesday says: “If CPO is used, it is highly likely that objections will be raised.
“However, without a CPO it is unlikely that the council will secure the land voluntarily in all cases.”
The route has long been a traffic bottleneck with motorists struggling to make progress during the morning and evening rush hours.
Last month, at the council’s infrastructure committee, David Smith Contractors Ltd was awarded the contract to carry out the demolition work.