An East Renfrewshire Council (ERC) project to deliver a new strategic cycle corridor along the A77 funded by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) has almost reached completion of phase two.

The project was visited by MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North Gavin Newlands along with the chair and chief executive of SPT.

Mr Newlands, who is also transport spokesperson in Westminster, said:

“I was delighted to meet with SPT and see first-hand the fantastic active travel upgrade of the A77 infrastructure. The upgrades included widened shared space and segregated walking and wheeling infrastructure, with specifically designed junctions it is the ideal solution that could be replicated across Scotland at suitable locations.

“Active travel improves health, promotes economic growth, and improves quality of life and the environment, and significantly cuts carbon emissions.

“For Scotland to achieve its net zero ambitions we must shift demand from cars and roads onto bikes and paths.  If we are serious about making walking and wheeling attractive and getting people out of their cars and tackling climate change, investment in new infrastructure and new facilities is essential. Scotland is leading the way in active travel with a commitment to invest £320m, that is 10% of their total transport budget on active travel by 2024-25.”

SPT chair Stephen Dornan added:

“This project in East Renfrewshire is an excellent example of projects that SPT’s capital funding investment support and deliver for people living and working in local communities across our region.

“We are working with all our local authority colleagues to provide better, safer active travel options which more people can enjoy.”

Phase one of the A77 project was entirely funded by SPT and runs from Barrhead to Uplawmoor, costing £650k for the 600m stretch of delivering a three-metre wide shared use path between North Hillhead Road and the M77 overbridge.

Works commenced on phase two in early 2023 running between the M77 overbridge and Malletsheugh junction.   The £1.3 million second phase was supported by SPT along with Cycling Walking Safer Routes (CWSR), and the Scottish Government’s Active Travel Transformation Fund (ATTF).  

The project is a key part of the Council’s Active Travel Plan and forms part of ERC’s Strategic Cycle Network to encourage more active travel in their area.

The remaining priorities will now link Netherlee to Eaglesham & Whitelee Wind Farm (phase three) which is due to start this financial year, with detailed design plans currently being developed.

Other priority routes for strategic cycle corridors include Busby to Barrhead and from Eaglesham to Barrhead.

Decisions on future funding will be considered as part of SPT’s capital funding programme in 2023/2024 and beyond.