The next phase of Stirling’s active travel transformation got underway this week.
Walk, Cycle, Live Stirling – one of the cornerstone projects of the £90.2million Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal – will create two active travel arteries, connecting people and places in the heart of Stirling like never before.
Construction started in Raploch in March and is nearing completion, while work at Goosecroft Road in the city centre is well underway.
Works for the Causewayhead and Dunster Road sections started on Monday for a 10-week period with the existing footpaths widened to include a new cycleway and improvements made to the supporting road infrastructure.
Full plans are available on Engage Stirling.
Stirling Council’s environment and housing convener Councillor Jen Preston said: “We’re at the start of something special here with Walk, Cycle, Live Stirling.
“The demand for better connected active travel routes is high across the area and we’re meeting that demand through our own investment, supported by Scottish Government funding from the City Region Deal and our partners Sustrans.
“Our aim is to make it easier than ever before for people to access and adopt more sustainable modes of transport across Stirling’s main touch points, helping the council reach its carbon reduction targets and building healthier, more active communities.
“When this is done, we will have developed a modern transport system that minimises carbon emissions, improves affordability and provides choice for all.”
WCLS is a £9.5million project, which will add new infrastructure to existing but currently disconnected routes over the next two years to create two new, fully connected travel corridors.
Route one will interlink Stirling train station and the University of Stirling, taking in iconic landmarks like Old Stirling Bridge and the National Wallace Monument along the way. Route two will bridge the gaps between Forth Valley College and the city centre along Albert Place, Dumbarton Road and Raploch Road, under the shadow of Stirling Castle.
Around 6.5km of new infrastructure will be added in total, funded by £2.5m of Scottish Government investment from the City Region Deal, £258,000 from Stirling Council’s developer contributions allocation and £6.8m from Sustrans’ Places for Everyone fund, backed by Transport Scotland.
The changes also present the council and partners with new place-making, accessibility and tourism opportunities along the routes, with the infrastructure also laying the groundwork for future connections to Clackmannanshire and the wider Forth Valley region.
Emily Gait, grant manager at Sustrans, said: “Walk, Cycle, Live Stirling is a truly ambitious and transformative project, and one that really delivers lasting sustainable transport change. We’re delighted with the work that’s already been completed in partnership with Stirling Council and keen to see the next phase of accessible walking, wheeling, and cycling infrastructure get underway along Causewayhead.”
