Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Link road plans put to the public
JUDITH TONNER
Public information events to outline plans for the proposed new East Airdrie link road (EALR) are taking place across the town next week.
North Lanarkshire Council officials will run events in Greengairs, Chapelhall and the town centre to outline initial information about the route, to run between Newhouse and Stand/Riggend.
Exhibitions are taking place following the conclusion of work to identify a shortlist of options; with assessments then due to be carried out over the coming months and a preferred route chosen this autumn.
The new road is also a key consideration in the choice of site for the new Monklands Hospital, with both the potential Airdrie sites at Glenmavis and Wester Moffat relying on the route to provide access for patients and staff.
Stanrigg memorial centre in Greengairs will host the first public consultation event this Tuesday, from 1pm to 7pm; with another running at Chapelhall library from 2pm to 7pm next Thursday, March 19.
Residents can also find out more about the plans at an exhibition session at Airdrie library on Wellwynd from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, March 21.
Council officials will explain the work done to date on the viability of building the road, answer questions and listen to feedback on the outcomes for communities along the route.
Enterprise convener Councillor Allan Graham said: “The East Airdrie link road would create a direct north-south route from the M8 to the A73, improving traffic flow across the area.
“Our assessments indicate that the road has the potential to reduce journey times across North Lanarkshire, improve connections between residential areas and town centres
– together with employment and education opportunities – and facilitate improvements to local bus transport.
“It has been proposed for a number of years, but we have updated and reviewed all the data and traffic assessments to ensure it remains a viable project and the best option for the area.
“Although it’s still at an early stage, we want to explain the process to date and what will happen next, giving residents and businesses an opportunity to tell us the outcomes and benefits they would like to see.”
Funded by the Glasgow region city deal, the EALR will run between Cumbernauld and the M8, then linking with the Ravenscraig access infrastructure south of the motorway. A web page for the project on North Lanarkshire’s website states: “It is anticipated the project will create a new single carriageway road link with pedestrian and cycle ways from north of the M8 to the A73, north of Stand.
“The road will have limited connections to the local road network to optimise traffic flow; it will include new road crossings of the Airdrie to Bathgate train line and the North Calder Water, together with several crossings of local roads and streams.
“[It] will reduce traffic journey times and congestion as well as improving air quality in and around Airdrie, by relieving congestion along the existing A73.”
Information from this month’s exhibitions will be made available online and further public consultation will take place in October when detailed options have been developed.
Design work will then take place this winter and an outline business case for funding developed a year later, with the current timeline intention being to make a planning application in two years’ time.
The website states: “This proposal is a key part of a much larger vision, to improve the current link from the M74 with the M80; we feel a new East Airdrie link road is vital for this to be a success.”
See www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/ east-airdrie-link-road for more details.