North Lanarkshire Council has announced the launch of the first phase of new active travel links between Motherwell Rail Station, the town centre and Braidhurst Industrial Estate.

Existing paths and pavements on Muir Street and Bellshill Road, from the junction with Milton Street to Braidhurst Industrial Estate, are being widened to enable shared use for walking and cycling. Access around bus stops along the routes will also be widened.

A number of on-street parking spaces will provided on Muir Street alongside existing businesses, while a new righthand turn lane for traffic into Milton Street from Muir Street will also be provided, for north bound traffic.

This phase of the project is being delivered by the council with £100,000 of funding from Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT). It is expected to be complete by early February.

"The active travel links will complement the new transport hub currently under construction at Motherwell Rail Station, providing safe routes for walking and cycling in and around the town centre and connecting with bus and rail services," said Councillor Paul Kelly, Depute Council Leader.

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"The routes will also make it easier for people to travel to and from Braidhurst Industrial Estate, where the council is developing new and improved units which will attract new businesses and employment opportunities."

SPT chair Councillor Stephen Dornan said: "SPT is delighted to be working in partnership with North Lanarkshire Council in investing in high quality active travel routes connecting Motherwell town centre with its surrounding areas. This investment will enhance the redevelopment of Motherwell train station and bus interchange which SPT is also providing funding towards.

"By continued investment in walking, wheeling and cycling routes, more people will be encouraged to travel in an environmentally-friendly way, be more active and will have sustainable travel choices as an alternative to using cars."

During the work, traffic management will be in place to provide alternative pedestrian routes and the council will work with local premises alongside to accommodate access requirements as much as possible. Two-way traffic flow on Muir Street and Bellshill Road will be maintained both during the works and once the works are completed.

A second phase of work is planned for spring/summer 2023 which will see wider paths provided for shared use walking and cycling on Hope Street and Pollock Street and the roundabout next to Motherwell Rail Station changed to a junction with traffic signals and pedestrian/cyclist crossings.

As part of the work, two lanes will be created for eastbound road traffic approaching the junction and travelling along Hope Street to the Aquatec roundabout. One lane of traffic will be retained for westbound traffic. This will improve access to the station for pedestrians and cyclists and the operation of the junction for road traffic. This phase of the project is being funded by the Scottish Government's Place Based Investment Programme with investment of £500,000.