Green light for M74 completion project

An extension to the M74 which will significantly reduce congestion on the busiest stretch of the M8 through Glasgow and provide a major economic boost to the west of Scotland was given the go ahead today by the Scottish Government.

The tender price bid by the Interlink M74 consortium is a fixed price of just under £445 million plus an allowance for approximately £12 million for possible treatment of mine workings along the route. The scheme is predicted to return significantly more than its cost in terms of wider benefits.

Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said:

"This Government has always been committed to the M74 project. Following an internal review of the procurement processes the Government is confident that the procedures are robust and we are happy for Glasgow City Council to award the contract to the Interlink M74 Joint Venture.

"This extension will complete the motorway network and reduce congestion on the busiest stretch of the M8 through Glasgow. It will also provide links to regeneration projects in the east end of Glasgow and will bring much-needed new investment in homes and jobs.

"This project is also a crucial piece of the infrastructure which is required to provide excellent transport facilities for the visitors and athletes expected in the city as a result of the 2014 Commonwealth Games. "The bid achieves value for money and I am determined to ensure that there is robust management of this scheme in order to protect the public purse." Councillor Steven Purcell, Leader of Glasgow City Council, said:

"Glasgow has argued for decades that this development is vital to the future growth of the city.

"This is tremendous news for jobs, for commuters and for the 2014 Commonwealth Games."

The bid achieves clear value for money against the independent cost comparator produced by consultants EC Harris on Transport Scotland's behalf against current construction market cost. Construction of the Transport Scotland-managed project is now anticipated to get underway in May and expected to complete by the end of 2011.

Around £200 million has already been invested in the project on securing land and advanced works.

The project was announced by Scottish Ministers in September 2000. Draft Road and Compulsory Purchase Orders were published in March 2003. A Public Local Inquiry ran from December 2003 to March 2004, resulting in a decision to proceed with the scheme in March 2005. Friends of the Earth lodged an appeal against the Ministerial decision to proceed with the scheme in May 2005. Friends of the Earth abandoned the appeal during the Appeal Court hearing in June 2006 concluding the statutory processes.

The tendering process began in August 2006.

The sole bidder Interlink M74 Joint Venture comprises the following major construction companies: Morgan Est, Balfour Beatty, Morrison Construction and Sir Robert McAlpine.

The M74 completion is part of major investment in the Central Belt's transport network including a new Forth Bridge, a new rail link to Glasgow airport, a new rail link between Airdrie in the west and Bathgate in the east and a package of improvements on rail services between Edinburgh and Glasgow including electrification of the line and a public transport link to Edinburgh Airport. The M74 completion project will grow Scotland's economy by improving transport links in the west of Scotland and bring new jobs, particularly along the route but also across the west of Scotland.

The project will serve the regeneration of the south and east of Glasgow, Rutherglen and Cambuslang, and be delivered in good time for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014.