Early Christmas present for M8 users

Mr Brown said:

“The Central Scotland motorway network is moving closer to completion with Transport Scotland working hard to secure the final details of the contract with the preferred bidder, Scottish Roads Partnership (SRP), with the main works expected to begin in the early weeks of the new year.

“In recent months, there has been advance work taking place along the Baillieston to Newhouse stretch of the A8 and near the Raith Junction on the M74. This work to stabilise areas of former mine workings adjacent to the A8/A725 at Shawhead was completed on programme in July.

“Utility companies can now be seen undertaking major diversions of gas and water services and, in addition, environmental and ground survey work is being carried out on the project area. Undertaking this work in advance means that the main contractor can progress his works without delay, minimising programme risk to the main construction works and providing value for taxpayers’ money.

“The project will complete the motorway network between Glasgow and Edinburgh by providing a new motorway between Baillieston to Newhouse. It also includes work to improve the Raith Interchange and widening key sections of the M8, M73 and M74.

“When complete the new section of road will shave up to 18 minutes off journeys at peak times for vehicles using busy sections of the M8 each day. It is also expected to directly support hundreds of jobs, as well as many more in the supply chain.

“The Scottish Government is continuing to invest in our transport infrastructure and the improvements made by this project will have long-lasting benefits for people across the central belt and beyond.

“This project will boost the nation’s economy by improving connections for businesses across Scotland and will directly support the hard-pressed construction industry. The M74 Completion generated 900 construction jobs and we expect this project to be on a similar scale.

“These improvements will also greatly increase road safety and accessibility by playing an essential role in reducing driver frustration and accidents and providing easier access to and from a number of communities and locations, such as Strathclyde Park.

“SRP already has a strong presence in Scotland, with Amey a key member of the consortium’s delivery team employing over 1500 people in numerous locations across Scotland, including a major office base at Eurocentral.

“This is the first roads infrastructure scheme to be procured as part of the £2.5bn Scottish Government’s Non-Profit Distributing Model (NPD), and combines three previously separate schemes which helps to deliver economies of scale and efficiencies for the public purse.

“Following selection as preferred bidder in August this year, Transport Scotland are continuing to work closely with SRP to finalise the contract details to allow them to secure their funding package for the £415m project and will continue that work to ensure works progress as programmed with minimum disruption to road users to keep the project on track for Spring 2017 completion.

“Transport Scotland is committed to keeping local communities and road users informed and following a recent series of successful public exhibitions, further events are being planned with the contractor in the new year, with web updates being provided as the project moves forward.”