Preparations have commenced to clear the way for a purpose-built transport interchange in Galashiels associated with the Borders to Edinburgh railway.

The Scottish Borders Council has said the Transport Interchange is designed to link up sustainable modes of transport with the Borders Railway, focus footfall into the town centre and create a positive first impression of the area.

The first phase of works will see the re-alignment of Stirling Street to create an area for the new building, which will be adjacent to Ladhope Vale. The work will also include the creation of a new civic space on the former bus station car park site, with a new car park being created on the remainder of the former bus station in order to replace spaces.

As a result, the public car parks on Stirling Street will close from today (16 September) but will eventually be replaced, while Ladhope Vale car park is also to close temporarily, but will re-open in 2015.

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To allow the new road to be created through the existing bus station, bus services will need to operate from on-street stances in both Stirling Street and Market Street throughout the construction period. This will be from 14 October until the new Transport Interchange is operational in 2015.

Work on the new Transport Interchange building itself will start in early 2014 once the infrastructure improvements are complete. European funding was secured in 2011 to deliver this project.

Scottish Borders Council's Executive Member for Roads and Infrastructure, Gordon Edgar, said it would ultimately be a major boost for the area.

He is quoted as saying: "We appreciate there is going to be some impact to existing arrangements to allow this work to get under way, but this is a huge project which will bring some significant benefits for local businesses and for people travelling into and out of the Borders.

"All of the work this year is being carried out by SBc Contracts, the council's in-house contractor, to ensure traffic management requirements are fully co-ordinated so that disruption is kept to a minimum.

"This single point of control will also benefit co-ordination with the Borders railway project."

Work on the new Transport Interchange building itself will commence in early 2014, once the infrastructure improvements are complete.

(JP/CD)