PLANS to improve bus links serving the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital remain on the cards after planning permission was renewed.

Glasgow City Council has approved Strathclyde Partnership for Transport’s (SPT) application to form a road between Hardgate Road and Bogmoor Road as part of the Fastlink scheme.

The plan also includes widening Renfrew Road.

Fastlink’s western approach route will take passengers to the hospital as well as providing dedicated space for pedestrians and cyclists.

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“Together these works will enable buses to use a dedicated route from Hardgate Road to Renfrew Road, bypassing other road traffic and therefore speeding up journey times, creating a natural extension to the Fastlink route,” a planning statement, submitted to the council, reveals.

“It will also connect the existing cycling/walking infrastructure on Kings Inch Drive to the hospital and beyond with a three metre wide shared footway facility.”

Planning consent for the new road was originally granted in March 2016, with the application for renewal submitted in January this year.

Parking has been a concern at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, which handles around 750,000 patients a year and has 10,000 staff.

The 420m long Fastlink road aims to provide efficient public transport to cater for demand, protect public transport from congestion, minimise the impact buses have on other traffic and reduce parking pressure on the hospital site and local community.

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“Within Glasgow’s city centre, Fastlink connects with Central Station, Queen Street Station, and then runs along the Clydeside via the International Financial Services District, the Clyde Arc Bridge and Govan to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital,” the planning report states.

“To date up to £40m has been invested by SPT and the Scottish Government in Fastlink infrastructure, including signalling upgrades and lane improvements to give buses priority access.

“However, it has long been recognised that the lack of Fastlink infrastructure to the west of the new hospital complex means that public transport travelling in that direction cannot take advantage of quicker journey times.”

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Traffic lights will be installed at both the Renfrew Road ‘T’ junction and the intersection of Bogmoor Road and Renfrew Road. The signals will give priority to buses and controlled crossing points for cyclists and pedestrians.