THE biggest single roads and infrastructure investment in North Lanarkshire’s history has been given the go ahead.
Glasgow city region cabinet approved the £190 million plans for the pan-Lanarkshire orbital project which will effectively join the M74 in the south with the M80 in the north. The council anticipates the project will have the ability to create 6,700 jobs and boost the economy by £360 million.
It will provide new and upgraded roads from the M74 at Motherwell, through the strategic investment site at Ravenscraig to the M8 at Eurocentral, and onward past Airdrie on a new link road to the A73 south of Cumbernauld.
The project will also see an improved public transport hub at Motherwell train station incorporating access improvements, park and ride expansion, active travel links and new public realm works.
North Lanarkshire Council’s leader, councillor Jim Logue, said, “This is a groundbreaking investment which will provide an enormous boost to the North Lanarkshire economy.
“North Lanarkshire is open for business. As part of our strategy, it’s essential that we are able to attract significant investment to Ravenscraig, and improve access to jobs for people across the area. Only by providing excellent roads infrastructure can we attract businesses to invest, and this development ensures great access and a link between the M74 in the south and the M80 in the north.”
