Kirkintilloch Link Road a step closer

14 Jul 2006

Local residents will soon see work on the Kirkintilloch Link Road move up a gear as engineers go on site later this month. The new road, one of Kirkintilloch’s Initiative’s (KI) flagship projects, will link Kirkintilloch to the national motorway system by a high standard road for the first time.

A series of engineering tests are to be carried out by drilling rigs along the line of the new road to check ground conditions. This information will be used to help inform the detailed design of the road which is currently being produced for KI by experienced road designers. It will help them to identify the best layout for the road and mix of materials available for use in the construction. The ground condition information will also assist the design of landscape measures aimed at ensuring the road fits in with the surrounding landscape.

Colin Smith, Project Champion for the Kirkintilloch Link Road, explained that development of the road is vital to the regeneration of Kirkintilloch:
“The road will help to breathe new life into the town by connecting Kirkintilloch to the M80 for the first time and by contributing to the transport infrastructure capacity required to accommodate the increased demand for transport associated with the various KI regeneration projects.

“It will also help to take busy traffic away from the town centre and surrounding residential areas as well as improve transport links for local businesses.”

The work follows a move by East Dunbartonshire Council and KI to speed up the development of the project. EDC recently raised a Compulsory Purchase Order to buy the remaining land needed for the project. KI and EDC are also working on a transport master plan for the Kirkintilloch area which includes delivery of the Link Road along with a range of other transport improvements. As part of this process a detailed Transport Assessment has been prepared for the new Leisure Centre. It looks at all aspects of access by car, bus, cycle and walking and assesses the impact of new traffic on local junctions and the existing access roads.
Engineering work will start at various sites for the link road at the end of July and is expected to last for 6 weeks. KI assures residents that the tests will cause minimal disruption. KI hopes to start construction on the road in Spring 2007 with an expected completion date by early 2009.

Once the detailed designs for the Kirkintilloch Link Road are finalised they will be put on public display.

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For more information contact:
Lynne Veitch, Pagoda PR, T: 0131 556 0770. E: Lynne.veitch@pagodapr.com