THE next phase of the Fastlink bus scheme has been approved.

The route which travels along the Clydeside and through Govan to the new Queen Elizabeth Hospital will be extended through the city centre.

Work will take place in several streets and at key junctions to improve bus journey times for the Fastlink services.

The project so far has been controversial with delays and disruption and bus operators claiming it is slower than the normal road in parts.

The next phase will see a new junction at Union Street and Argyle Street with a new layout in Union Street with passenger improvements and wider pavements.

Transport Minister Derek Mackay announced the works costing £3.14m at a transport conference in Glasgow.

The streets affected are Union Street, Argyle Street, Jamaica Street, Midland Street, Oswald Street, and Howard Street.

Mr MacKay said: “This key project has come a long way and a great deal has been achieved, with even more to come.

“I look forward to the full benefits of the scheme being realised when the city centre elements of Fastlink are delivered in 2017, bringing additional benefits to passengers along the way.”

Strathclyde Partnership for Transport and Glasgow City Council have agreed the plans for the next stage of the works.

Union Street the busiest in the city for buses will be the focus on the work with a completely new layout installed.

SPT said it will see state of the art passenger facilities, real-time information and widened footpaths along with upgraded street lighting.

More than 180 buses and hour travel down Union Street, making the road and pavements very congested and Fastlink plans to turn the street into a bus hub and not just a street with bus stops.

Dennis McKenna, SPT Vice Chair, said: “Fastlink offers passengers in and around Glasgow a high-quality, attractive and affordable bus route. This latest stage announced today further enhances the city centre’s main bus corridors to reduce journey times and improve travel options for bus users.

“The further roll out of Fastlink in the city centre will see passengers benefitting from improved bus facilities and improved bus services able to take advantage of bus priority measures throughout the city centre.”

Planning and design work will start in the new year and the work is expected to be completed by 2017

The council admitted not everything had gone smoothly with the first stages of the project.

Elaine McDougall, Executive Member for Transport, Environment and Sustainability, said: “The works associated with Fastlink have been challenging and we are delighted the route is open and in use with passengers benefitting from faster, quicker journey times.”