The work, which is expected to take 16 weeks to complete, will create an enhanced bus facility, marking a major investment in the future of Lanark and the wider public transport network.

The interchange is the latest phase in the council’s transportation improvement works which is being part funded by the council through one of the investment funds identified in the council’s last budget, along with additional funding from SPT and Transport Scotland.

The project follows on from a series of other programmes of work including a new park and ride with 64 car parking spaces including two electric vehicle charging bays, constructed at Ladyacre Road (former Alstons Yard).

In addition, eight disabled parking spaces have also been created on Bannatyne Street at the rail / bus station.

This phase, working with the project’s main funding partners, SPT and Transport Scotland, as well as liaising with local taxi and bus services, ScotRail and Morrisons, will see the expansion and upgrade of the bus station area which will improve interchange facilities for bus and rail passengers.

The bus station area will improve passenger boarding points, new bus shelters at the stops and pedestrian facilities on Bannatyne Street. There will also be secure facilities for those cycling back and forth to the interchange.

Chair of the council’s Community and Enterprise Resources Committee, Councillor Robert Brown, said: “Over the next 16 weeks while the work is being carried out, we would ask passengers and road users to be patient and allow extra time for their journeys.

“However, this is an exciting project and the end result should be worth the short-term inconvenience.”

• Temporary bus and taxi arrangements are in place on Bannatyne Street, with part of the taxi rank also relocated to Ladyacre Car Park for the duration of the works.
• There are also temporary relocations of bus services onto Bannatyne Street and Hyndford Road to all the construction phase to be carried out safely
• Additionally, bus operations will be temporarily relocated with minimal impact on the surrounding road network as well as passengers following agreement with Strathclyde Partnership for Transport and local bus operators
• Bus services on Hyndford Road approaching from the southeast will use temporary bus stops within part of the area currently marked for school buses – The buses will use the opposite side of the road so they will make the turn and park on the north side of Hyndford
• Services will then use the roundabout at the Retail Park to turn for their return journeys as above
• Bus services approaching from High Street will travel along Bannatyne Street and turn at the Retail Park roundabout and stop at one of three temporary bus stops on Bannatyne Street
• Most of the existing taxi rank on Bannatyne Street will be relocated temporarily to the Park and Ride car park – however, two spaces for taxis will remain on Bannatyne Street