Scotland

Work underway on Fife’s new transport hub

Halbeath Park and Choose- Dunfermline

Worth £10million, Halbeath ‘Park & Choose’ will have six bus stances, a facilities building with a retail unit and parking space for 1,000 vehicles – there are no plans to implement charges for parking at the facility.

Fife’s transport interchange will be located north of Crossgates roundabout in Dunfermline and will support the New Forth Crossing.

All passing bus services will stop at the interchange, making it the ideal place to join bus services or car share from. There will also be dedicated bus lanes on the M90 to prioritise public transport between Halbeath and Edinburgh.

Halbeath Park and Choose- Dunfermline

Construction work is being carried out by Stirling-based infrastructure, support services and construction group, Robertson, and is expected to be complete by October 2013. The site will be managed and maintained by Fife Council. Funding for the project has come from Transport Scotland.

Work began late last year with representatives from Fife Council, the Scottish Government, Stagecoach and Robertson marking the occasion with a ground breaking ceremony and tour of the site.

At the ceremony, Transport Minister Keith Brown said:

“This project is a welcome development for the people of Fife and Edinburgh. When completed, it will provide opportunities for car-sharing and free parking for over 1,000 vehicles. It will also deliver better access to bus services, making public transport more attractive to the public due to significant reductions in journey times thanks to dedicated bus lanes.

“We remain determined to cut carbon emissions and improve public transport, which is why we are providing significant funding to help Fife Council build on the progress of the existing Ferrytoll Park & Ride scheme, as well as complement the new Forth Replacement Crossing scheme.”

Halbeath Park and Choose- Dunfermline

Fife Council’s Executive Spokesperson for Transport & Environment, Cllr. Pat Callaghan, added:

“This new Park & Choose facility will make travelling from Fife to Edinburgh even quicker, easier and more cost effective. Three quarters of the vehicles travelling south for the Forth Bridge will pass within a mile of Halbeath Park & Choose, and we want to replicate the great service already provided by Ferrytoll Park & Ride.”

Halbeath Park and Choose- Dunfermline

Andrew Cowan, Robertson Group CEO, said:

“The construction of Fife’s transport hub will revolutionise the way transport links operate in Fife. It will make it quicker and more user friendly for the public and businesses alike. We have planned the delivery of this scheme to be efficient, with careful planning to ensure that the positive economic impact is maximised. Once complete the unique design will become a landmark for the town.”

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