MONITORING data has confirmed that the Denny eastern access road (DEAR) is delivering on all of its aims, Falkirk Council has revealed.
The £9.2 million project, which was delivered by RJ McLeod and opened to traffic in May 2024, was designed to reduce congestion at Denny Cross, and improve air quality in the town centre.
Traffic monitoring undertaken before and after the road opened shows clear reductions in the number of vehicles travelling through Denny town centre. Since opening, DEAR has carried an average of around 4,800 vehicles per day – providing an effective alternative route around the south-east of the town.
At Denny Cross, the total number of vehicles passing through the junction has reduced by 24%. This includes a reduction of 1,900 vehicles per day along Glasgow Road (down 21.8%) and 2,580 fewer vehicles per day along Broad Street (down 20.8%).
The local authority said the changes indicate that drivers are using the new road as an alternative route, helping to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow. Traffic on surrounding routes shows similar positive changes. On Glasgow Road, north of the Nethermains roundabout, traffic volumes have dropped by 32%.
No personal injury accidents have been recorded on the new road since it opened. Air quality has also improved. Baseline data collected before construction was compared with new data gathered after the road became operational. Pollution levels were already well within national limits and have since improved further.
Levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) have fallen by up to 28% at key locations on Glasgow Road and Broad Street; measured concentrations of all pollutants remain well below Scottish Air Quality Objective limits; and levels of particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) remain very low and unchanged.
The Denny eastern access road was funded through a combination of Falkirk Council capital investment and developer contributions. The project was completed on time and on budget, delivering lasting benefits to Denny residents and road users.
Councillor Paul Garner, Falkirk Council’s depute leader, said, “The Denny eastern access road is a great example of long-term planning delivering real results for local people. This project was first identified more than twenty years ago to tackle congestion at Denny Cross, and improve air quality. These latest figures show that it’s achieved all those goals.
“By diverting traffic away from the town centre, the road has made it easier and safer for people to move around Denny, while keeping air quality well within national standards. It also provides the infrastructure needed to support future development in the area, ensuring that the town continues to grow in a planned and sustainable way.”
