M80 Stepps to Haggs is a vital infrastructure project on the strategic road network between Glasgow, Stirling and the North East.
It is one of the most heavily used roads in Scotland, carrying both strategic and commuter traffic. Currently, the section of road between Stepps and Haggs is an all purpose dual carriageway and is the only non-motorway section between Glasgow and the end of the M80 at Dunblane.
The M80 Stepps to Haggs project will deliver significant economic, environmental and safety benefits, by improving road safety and access to the north and south of the country. Reflecting the Government’s strategic objectives of wealthier and fairer, safer and stronger and greener, the M80 Stepps to Haggs upgrade will produce the following benefits:
Economy
- Improved journey times and reliability, with a 30/40% reduction in journey times during peak travel, equating to a reduction of approximately 15 minutes for people using the route
- More efficient use of the network, reducing delay and thereby improving journey time reliability
- To improve access to facilities, in particular to jobs, and to provide accessibility for freight deliveries, consistent with the strategic role of the scheme corridor (linking the North of Scotland with the M74 south, the main route to the European markets)
- To complete the Central Scotland motorway network by improving the road corridor in line with Transport Scotland's integrated transport policy and the Scottish Ministers' response to the Central Scotland Transport Corridor Study (CSTCS).
Safety
- Reduce motorway congestion and lessen driver frustration
- To improve safety in the A80 corridor and reduce the risk of accidents, between vehicles and between vehicles and other road users
- Improve safety for vehicles entering and exiting the A80 and other road users by bypassing the most urban section of the route
- Improved access to and from the strategic road network for the local area, particularly to Cumbernauld.
Environment
- Contribute to the Government’s objective of striving to stabilise traffic volumes by the year 2021
- Reduced traffic noise
- The improved design and more effective management of the network will reduce the adverse impacts of the current traffic on the local community and lessen the impact on the built and natural
- Reduce vehicle emissions and promote a healthier environment
- To encourage the use of materials and construction and maintenance methods which minimise the impact on the environment and local communities.
