PLANNING permission has been granted for an access road to the new University Hospital Monklands in Wester Moffat.
North Lanarkshire Council has given the green light to a 2.3km route in Airdrie that will form part of the wider East Airdrie link road project. It will connect Towers Road with Forrest Street, where it becomes Airdrie Road (A89), with a signalised roundabout at Varnsdorf Way and will include active travel features, street lighting and landscaping.
Known as the Towers Road Link, the section of road also includes a bridge over the North Calder Water and a roundabout giving a second access to the hospital site from the main East Airdrie link road.
Work is scheduled to start on the Towers Road Link in 2028 and it is planned to open in 2030. The Scottish Government has also confirmed its funding contribution to the project.
North Lanarkshire Council leader, Jim Logue, said, “Construction of the East Airdrie link road, reflects our ambitions for North Lanarkshire, creating opportunities for business and industry, stronger connections between town centres, residential and employment areas, and improving transport links. With planning permission in place, we can now move forward with delivery of the Towers Road Link, the first stage in this ambitious project.
“The original plans for the East Airdrie Link Road were amended to facilitate the hospital access, and I welcome the confirmation by the Scottish Government of their share of the funding which I trust demonstrates their commitment to delivering a first-class hospital for the people of North Lanarkshire.”
The council and NHS Lanarkshire are working in partnership to deliver the project with work on the new road scheduled to commence in 2028 and complete in 2030.
Graeme Reid, project director of the Monklands replacement project, added, “Access from the main East Airdrie Link Road has long been a fundamental part of our plans to ensure good connectivity to the new University Hospital Monklands. These two milestone decisions on funding and planning consent mean the community will now benefit from a second hospital access route through the Towers Road link.”
