Objectives

The Raith junction improvement works satisfy the Scottish Government’s five policy objectives of Environment, Economy, Safety, Integration and Accessibility as follows:

Environment

The new junction will minimise the overall impacts on the adjacent designated sites. The wetland habitat in the area is of value as a whole. Whilst small encroachment into the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is required, overall enhancement of the habitat is achievable by use of adjacent flood compensatory areas as additional wetland.

The new junction will have low landscape and visual impacts and low impacts on adjacent agricultural land.

Local benefits to air quality and noise levels will result from the improvements.

Economy

The junction improvements will provide a cost-effective solution which will improve journey times and the reliability of journeys on the A725 and the M74 with direct economic benefits to road users.

The junction will support traffic growth associated with key developments along the M8 and A725 corridors. The new junction will also improve the operation of existing business making use of the Central Scotland Trunk Road Network by reducing travel costs.

Safety

To remove traffic from the roundabout and provide free flow conditions for the A725 through traffic, thus reducing the potential for vehicular accidents.

To reduce the potential for conflicts between pedestrians and cyclists and motor vehicles.

Integration

The proposed junction will support development opportunities identified in and around the M8 and the A725 corridors.

The junction will respect existing land use and complement that identified in the local plan.

Accessibility

The new junction is designed to provide free-flow traffic conditions in the year of opening addressing the reasonable needs of traffic seeking to access the Central Scotland Trunk Road Network.

The new segregated walkway/cycleway will significantly improve facilities and conditions for non-motorised users and provide safer connections between Bothwell and Bellshill and adjacent recreational routes.