Approval for a �20m plan to ease one of Scotland's worst traffic bottlenecks has been given by the Scottish Executive.

Transport minister Lewis Macdonald has given the green light - without a public inquiry - for the upgrade of the Auchenkilns roundabout, near Cumbernauld.

Work will start next summer to replace the roundabout with a new bridge spanning the A80 road, connecting to new roundabouts on either side.

Construction is set to take about 18 months.

The Auchenkilns roundabout has experienced major congestion for a long time Transport minister Lewis Macdonald

Acknowledging the move would not be popular locally, the minister said: "Having considered all the arguments, I am satisfied the benefits to be gained from not delaying construction any further are so significant that they outweigh any negative impact on the surrounding community."

He said: "The A80 is a major link in the Scottish trunk road network.

"The Auchenkilns roundabout has experienced major congestion for a long time.

"Upgrading the roundabout in this way will remove some of the worst congestion on the network, bringing major benefits in terms of road safety and increased reliability in journey times.

"It will also make a significant contribution to how effectively the route handles increased volumes of traffic, especially at peak times."