Transport Minister Keith Brown has hailed the Scottish Government's record of delivering major transport projects in bringing benefits to the Scottish economy and minimising costs to the public purse.

This follows Transport Scotland, along with the three local authorities involved in the M74 Completion project, receiving a prestigious award for the procurement of the major new link in Scotland's transport infrastructure.

The Scottish Government transport agency, along with Glasgow City, South Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire councils, were recently honoured by the judging panel for the Government Opportunities (GO) Excellence in Public Procurement Awards Scotland.


Transport Minister Keith Brown said: "This award recognises the significant achievement in delivering a major infrastructure project ahead of schedule and under budget. It is a testament to the strong collaborative partnership forged between Transport Scotland and to our three local authority partners. All those involved in the M74 Completion scheme can be justifiably proud of the new motorway that they have delivered.

"Together with the recent opening of the M80, which was completed on time and on budget, these new motorway links are providing real benefits to Scotland's economy, and reducing journey times and improving safety for road users.

"This is all part of our commitment to delivering best value in public procurement and which was further underlined earlier this year with the award of the Forth Replacement Crossing significantly under budget, shaving hundreds of millions off the original estimate.

"This is all tangible evidence that the Scottish Government, through its transport agency Transport Scotland, is managing major infrastructure projects successfully in a way which maximises benefits and minimises costs to the public purse."

(GK)