Nearly 100 new trees have been planted as part of advance work for the Glasgow Airport Rail Link (GARL) project.

The advanced landscaping work has seen the semi-mature trees planted at St James Playing Fields in Paisley, which the GARL branch line will run across when completed.

Transport Scotland – the Scottish Government’s transport agency charged with delivering GARL – employed contractor Amey to undertake the work, which included removing six existing trees, planting 95 semi-mature trees and hundreds of shrubs along Greenock Road and the south-east corner of the park. The ball-catch fencing along Greenock Road was removed.

Contractor Amey will also undertake further advance road works including creating a new entrance for vehicles to access St James Park and building a temporary car park for visitors to the park. This work will start soon and is expected to be completed in summer 2009.


Nadia Savage, Transport Scotland's GARL Project Director, said: "I am pleased that the landscaping work at St James Park has been completed. We have consulted with local residents during the course of this project and continue to hold meetings with local residents to address their concerns."

The news follows the announcement that four separate bidders consisting of seven of Europe's biggest construction companies will bid to build the branch line and viaduct which will cross the M8 and take passengers to the new airport station.

The final phase of ground investigation to meet the additional specific requirements of the shortlisted tenderers for the Branch Line Phase I contract is also underway. The contract represents the most significant single element in the Glasgow Airport Rail Link (GARL) project and will be another boost for the construction industry as part of the Scottish Government’s current infrastructure investment programme.

The Branch Line Phase I contract is expected to be awarded in 2010. Following a six-month design period, construction is set to begin in summer 2010, meaning GARL is set to be operational in early 2013, in advance of the Commonwealth Games in 2014.

(GK/BMcC)