If the green light is given at the executive on Tuesday, 13 June, then Balfour Beatty will begin work over the summer to widen carriageways, build major crossing points, and provide the road changes.

This work will pave the way for the new Gateway Development, which will feature a vibrant mix of retail, leisure, residential and business facilities.

The eagerly awaited Westfield A9/A904 Improvement scheme is set to be the largest and most significant infrastructure investment under Falkirk Council’s innovative Tax Incremental Finance (TIF) programme.

The project will also utilise £14 million from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Funding to deliver improved connectivity and accessibility, unlock underutilised land for development, and provide a substantial boost to economic growth and active travel choices.

Gaining approval from the Executive would allow the council to bring Balfour Beatty on board to deliver the construction phase of the transformative project.

Having already worked with the firm during the early planning stages, the council gained invaluable knowledge about construction approaches and a clearer understanding of project costs that will help ensure the effective and efficient delivery of the work.

Balfour Beatty has also collaborated with the council’s Procurement Team and Employment Training Unit to help develop wider community benefits that will be realised once the c£40m construction contract is awarded.

By seeking to continue to work with the international civil engineering and construction firm, it will provide the council with continuity and robust performance monitoring.

Malcolm Bennie, director of place services at Falkirk Council, said: “Approval to appoint the contractor would allow us to take another significant step forward in the delivery of the Westfield A9/A904 works.

“This is an exciting opportunity to make a substantial investment in our infrastructure that will unlock significant development at the Gateway, deliver jobs, improve road capacity and delivery significant active travel improvements. Working closely with Balfour Beatty has already proven invaluable during the early planning stages and taking them through to the construction phase would be our preferred approach. It is now for Councillors to decide if this is the best way forward.”