An upgraded motorway junction that is part of the Forth Replacement Crossing (FRC) is to open next month ahead of schedule.

The new M9 Junction 1a will open on 1 February and is intended to provide better connections for traffic on the road network in West Lothian and to the north west of Edinburgh.

The £25.6m junction completes the second of three main contracts to deliver the FRC project.

The upgraded M90 in Fife was opened in December.

The Forth Replacement Crossing is expected to open in 2016.

Commenting on the new motorway junction, Transport Minister Keith Brown said: "Not only is this work going to be completed earlier than the expected Spring 2013 opening but remember that the winning tender came in some £20m under the original budget. I congratulate my officials and the contractors on such a fine job.

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"The entire Forth Replacement Crossing scheme comprises nearly 14 miles of new or upgraded road. It was always more than just a bridge project and I’m delighted we are going to complete the road upgrades to the north and south of the Forth ahead of schedule so people can start to benefit from this vital project as early as possible.

"Completing M9 Junction 1a means drivers will now have much improved, motorway-standard connections between the current road bridge and the M9, improving accessibility to West Lothian and traffic coming from the west via the M8."

The work was carried out by Sisk Roadbridge.

The opening of the junction completes phase two of the FRC Intelligent Transport System, with phase three being the completion of the bridge in 2016.

The system will see overhead gantries spaced along the corridor to provide lane control, variable mandatory speed control and bus lane control.

It will be the first time such a scheme has been used in Scotland.

(IT)