Carillion secures road contract

Carillion Civil Engineering in Scotland has secured a £21m link road contract to connect Kirkintilloch to the national motorway.

The preparation work to get the site ready for construction, including utility diversions, tree and plant clearing has already been carried out. Carillion will now start the building phase, which is expected to take around 18 months.

Carillon said in a statement that the road will bring significant benefits to the local economy, community and environment in the Kirkintilloch and Lenzie area. Running from Kirkintilloch town centre to Hornshill interchange at the M80 Stepps by-pass, benefits are said to include improved transport links; the creation of 1000 new jobs and 100 new businesses; and the creation of a brand new area of wetland to protect and attract wildlife. The road will also relieve town centre congestion and improving public safety by diverting traffic away from residential areas in Kirkintilloch and Lenzie.

Over the last year the Kirkintilloch Initiative (KI) has been working closely with East Dunbartonshire Council Planning Services, Scottish Natural Heritage, SEPA and Envirocentre to finalise the detailed designs of the road.

East Dunbartonshire council leader and KI board leader Rhondda Geekie said: ‘The link road has always been a central part of the multi-million pound regeneration programme. Its construction is central to the delivery of many of the other proposed projects and will boost business and tourism in the area. We’re not just investing in urban renewal but creating a better quality of life for residents and visitors.’

KI’s project director Duncan Hamilton added: ‘It has taken time and involved a lot of discussions with the community and statutory bodies to agree detailed plans that would give the most benefits.’