The new toucan crossing is based on Main Street in the town and has been installed by South Lanarkshire Council, in partnership with Sustrans.

Previous to the improvements, the crossing was in two phases and featured a very constrained refuge island in the centre of four lanes of traffic.

The new crossing is now a single phase, which has reduced waiting times for walkers, wheelers and cyclists.

Removing the island and widening the crossing has also improved accessibility and reduced the risk of conflict with other road users.

This provides a much improved and safer crossing point for people in Rutherglen town centre.

Chair of the council’s Community and Enterprise Resources Committee, Councillor Robert Brown, said: “This upgrade helps in our efforts to make South Lanarkshire a safer place for everyone to get around.

“Rutherglen Main Street is obviously a very busy road, and an obvious location for the toucan crossing.”

The crossing forms part of the National Cycle Network route 756, connecting the route to Rutherglen Main Street and beyond onto the NCN route 74.

The upgrades in Rutherglen are part of wider work to improve the National Cycle Network across the country.

Emilia Hanna, Head of Programme for the National Cycle Network at Sustrans Scotland, added: “This new crossing provides a safer and more accessible link through the town.

“Rutherglen is home to a key link between the NCN routes 74 and 756, and we hope these improvements empower more people in South Lanarkshire to discover what the National Cycle Network has to offer.”

The project has been funded by the Scottish Government via active travel organisation Sustrans and was delivered in partnership by South Lanarkshire Council and Sustrans Scotland’s Network Development programme.

A total investment of £116,600 was provided to facilitate the works, which also incorporate the latest LED technology and energy saving equipment.