Glasgow City Region City Deal has approved the proposed development of a new transport interchange at Motherwell railway station.

Following approval, Balfour Beatty has been appointed to the £2m project.

The project on Muir Street will improve access to the station and create more space for buses and taxis, as well as environmental works to the area.

A new access road will be created from the roundabout at the north of Hamilton Road, behind the buildings on the left of Hamilton Road and Muir Street, to join the existing road in front of the station. This will create a new taxi rank for the station and additional capacity on Muir Street for buses. A new footpath, disabled parking bays and a drop off/pick up point at the station entrance will also be built.

This will complement the work currently underway at the railway station by ScotRail, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) and Transport Scotland to deliver an enhanced station forecourt and building with a glazed roof and brighter, larger concourse, improved ticket and retail sales facilities, and refurbished customer toilets and waiting facilities.

Now in the third phase of its redevelopment, work is currently underway to extend the station forecourt and internal concourse area, and a new customer lounge area between platform 2 and platform 3 is set to open later this month.

"Motherwell is a very busy station, for local residents travelling across North Lanarkshire and for people travelling to and from the rest of Scotland and the UK," said Councillor Paul Kelly, Council Depute Leader.

"The work currently being carried out will greatly improve the station facilities for all rail travelers, and the work planned by the council will build on this by creating a transport interchange that improves connectivity for all modes of transport – rail, bus, cycling, taxis and cars – as well as pedestrians.

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"Balfour Beatty are the contractors for the station work, so their appointment to our contract for the Muir Street works will allow us to co-ordinate the work on both projects and deliver operational efficiencies on time and budget.

"Overall, the project will also reduce traffic congestion in the town centre, improve the local environment and improve accessibility to public transport, which will also contribute to reducing carbon emissions."

John MacDonald, ScotRail Senior Project Manager, said: "Motherwell is ready for a transport hub that matches the town’s forward-looking perspective.

"Once complete, the new railway station and transport interchange will transform facilities for customers and open up a wealth of possibilities for the town centre.

"As customers gradually return to regular travel, it will make it much easier for people to choose an integrated sustainable journey."

SPT chair, Councillor Dr Martin Bartos said: "We are delighted to see this next major step in the project given the go ahead. The new access road and public realm works on Muir Street will greatly enhance public transport infrastructure in Motherwell town centre and will complement the current redevelopment works underway at the station.

"This investment by all partners will provide a modern vibrant transport interchange and will help encourage the switch to more sustainable travel choices. SPT looks forward to continued partnership working to deliver this important next stage of the project."

UK Government Minister for Scotland Iain Stewart said: "Quality transport infrastructure is the lifeblood of any town. Boosting connectivity and accessibility to this transport interchange will improve the lives of local residents and workers, as well as bringing more visitors and businesses to the area.

"Across Scotland the UK Government is investing more than £1.7 billion to help level-up communities."

Graeme Dey, Minister for Transport at the Scottish Government said: "This is an exciting development which will significantly enhance the £14.5m Transport Scotland, North Lanarkshire Council, ScotRail, and SPT project already underway to transform passenger facilities and accessibility at Motherwell Station.

"(This) announcement means that rail passengers travelling to and from Motherwell Station not only have better facilities on offer within the station but will also experience much improved connectivity and access with other forms of public transport. This, in turn, should enable and encourage more people to leave their cars behind as we work towards net zero."

"Balfour Beatty look forward to continue working in and around Motherwell Station with the addition of the Muir Street Interchange contract for North Lanarkshire Council," said Hector MacAulay MBE, Managing Director, Balfour Beatty. "Throughout the duration of the project our Social Impact team will deliver a number of local initiatives to benefit the surrounding neighbourhoods."

As part of the contract Balfour Beatty will provide work experience opportunities, a careers event and site visit, and contributions towards local community projects. The company has also committed to using local Small to Medium Sized companies (SMEs) for a proportion of materials and services and to involve a social enterprise in the project.

The project is expected to be complete by July 2022.