A significant project which will assist with the delivery of the newly approved Falkirk Economy recovery plan is being progressed.
Plans to widen four major roads in Falkirk and build an aerial bridge to take pedestrians and cyclists safely across them has now been successfully presented to Falkirk Council's emergency executive.
Councillors agreed that work to widen all of the approach roads to the Westfield roundabout – which links Falkirk town centre with Grangemouth and the M9 – should go ahead as a priority. It was recognised that this project would bring huge economic benefits to the area creating up to 540 construction jobs and helping to deliver the Falkirk Gateway site near Helix Park.
The work which will change existing roads into dual carriageways that feed into the roundabout will, however, make crossing already busy roads almost impossible – so planning permission will be sought to create a futuristic looking network of bridges over the roads.
The Westfield crossing, as it is currently known, has been given £2.4 million of European funding for low carbon travel and transport. The rest of the project will be funded from Falkirk’s TIF, which borrows money against future non-domestic rates to fund infrastructure projects.