WORK on a £4million road improvement project on the A78 at Inverkip is complete.
New traffic light junctions have been installed at Main Street and Kip Marina to address long-running road safety issues on the trunk road, and a T-junction has been created at Brueacre to open up access to the former Inverkip Power Station site, which is earmarked for up to 650 new homes.
The project is the third major Glasgow City Region City Deal-funded development being delivered by Inverclyde Council with the help of £3.6m of external funding, £1.8million each from the UK and Scottish governments. The local authority is contributing £570,000.
Work on the new junctions has been completed ahead of schedule. In addition, trunk road operator Amey, on behalf of Transport Scotland, has also delivered phased resurfacing works, further improving the route for road users.
Councillor Michael McCormick, Inverclyde Council’s convener of environment and regeneration, said: “This is a transformational project delivering important road safety improvements on the busy A78 trunk road while creating the required infrastructure to pave the way for a major housing development at the former Inverkip Power Station site, which would also create hundreds of jobs.
“These improvements have been years in the planning and much talked about so to be here now marking the completion of the project is a significant moment. It’s thanks to financial support from both the UK and Scottish governments and partnership working with our partners and contractors that we’ve been able to deliver these upgrades.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their patience and understanding while these important works were carried out and for understanding the long-term aim of improving road safety and laying the foundations for further investment in Inverclyde.”
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: “The completion of this project paves the way for the transformation of the Inverkip Power Station site into a thriving coastal community, featuring hundreds of new homes.
“It is supported by our £520 million investment in the Glasgow City Region Deal.”
UK Government Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill said: “It is great news that this important road safety and regeneration project has been completed.
“Backed by £1.8 million UK Government funding — part of our £520million commitment to the Glasgow City Region Deal — this improved road infrastructure will not only make journeys safer and smoother but also renew the economy by helping deliver hundreds of jobs and homes.”
Inverclyde’s other City Deal developments are the £20million Ocean Terminal visitor centre, which opened two years ago, and £11million worth of upgrades to Inchgreen Marine Park.
