£54m is to be invested in road improvements in the Cowdenbeath area.

The news follows approval by members of the Cowdenbeath Area Committee for £1.1m to go on 13 local road improvement projects during 2013/14.

A further £968,000 has been approved to improve footpaths, street lighting and road safety over the same period.

Fife Council is also entering the eighth year of an 11-year project to replace old street lighting columns in an investment of £40m.

A separate project will replace 42,000 old street lighting bulbs with new energy-efficient ones over the next six years.

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This will see 7,000 bulbs being replaced in 2013/14 at a cost of £1.4 million.

Cllr. Pat Callaghan, Executive Spokesperson for Transport & Environment, said: "Everyone living or working in Fife will benefit from the £49m investment in our street lights over the next six years, and a further £54 million investment to upgrade roads. In Fife we’re committed to investing significant funding to look after our transport network. This is vital for Fife’s economy and will benefit everybody travelling through Fife for work, business and pleasure."

Projects getting underway in the Cowdenbeath area in 2013/14 include replacing street lighting lanterns and columns in Cardenden and Ballingry, resurfacing the B920 in Lochgelly and resurfacing carriageway and footways in Blamey Crescent.

Chair of Cowdenbeath Area Committee, Cllr Willie Clarke said: "There’s only so much money to spend each year and it’s got to be prioritised. Transportation have got a good plan here that will improve things for drivers and pedestrians on our local roads and footpaths."

(IT)