A9/A904 project hits major milestones as new dual carriageways prepare to open
Major sections of road around Westfield Roundabout are expected to open as dual carriageway over the summer, as the A9/A904 Improvement Project reaches a series of major milestones.
The £54m project is the largest single investment within Falkirk Council’s Tax Incremental Finance (TIF) programme and is funded through a combination of TIF investment and £14.1m from the UK Government.
Sections preparing to open
Traffic has already moved onto newly built sections of carriageway at several points along the route, allowing construction teams to reconstruct the original carriageway while vehicles use newly completed sections of road.
As those works are completed the following sections of the route will begin operating in their final dual carriageway layout by the end of July 2026, with a series of overnight closures required in advance of each opening to allow final road surfacing to be undertaken and traffic management to be removed:
- A9 - Westfield Roundabout to the new Gateway Roundabout
- A9 - Westfield Roundabout to Stadium Roundabout
- A904 - Westfield Roundabout to Forth Valley College, inc. Alexander Avenue junction
As well as opening major sections of the A9 and A904, walkers and cyclists are also starting to see the benefits, with a new 5m-wide shared path now open between the Helix and Earlsgate, alongside three new links into the Helix in time for the series of summer concerts.
Work continuing across the route
The latest major traffic switch took place in May, when vehicles on the A904 between Westfield Roundabout and the Laurieston Road junction moved onto a newly constructed section of road.
This change allows construction teams to remove the former Midthorn Bridge, reconstruct the original carriageway and continue work on embankments and drainage in the area.
Stadium Way, which reopened for the Helix concerts, will be closed again from 15 June before reopening permanently in August with a left in, left out arrangement.
Further milestones are expected over the coming months, including the opening of the new West Mains Roundabout by the end of summer and resurfacing and traffic signal installation at Westfield Roundabout this autumn.
The full project is anticipated to complete in early 2027.
Cllr Paul Garner, Falkirk Council's spokesperson for economic development, said:
Since works began people have mainly seen this project as roadworks, traffic management and disruption. What we're now starting to see is the benefit of all that work.
“Over the coming months, some of the busiest sections around Westfield Roundabout will begin operating as dual carriageway for the first time, changing how traffic moves through one of the busiest road networks in the area.
“That will mean more reliable journey times, better connections for businesses, improved walking and cycling routes and safer access around the Helix, Falkirk Stadium and Forth Valley College.
“We know this work has caused disruption over a long period of time and we appreciate the patience people have shown while these major phases were carried out.
About the project
The A9/A904 Improvement Project is part of the Council’s wider TIF programme – a 25-year initiative that funds infrastructure improvements through future business rates generated by new development, rather than council tax.
The wider programme has already delivered more than £36m of infrastructure improvements across the Council area, supported more than 2,100 jobs and attracted around 135,000sqm of new commercial development.
The project is jointly funded with £14.1m from the UK Government and is being delivered by Balfour Beatty on behalf of the Council.