M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements

The project has its own website, see M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements. 

What's involved?
Completion of the Central Scotland motorway network with a motorway standard transport system that meets the needs of business, transport users and the environment. The works will comprise:

• Completion of the M8 between Edinburgh and Glasgow by providing a new section of motorway between the A73 at Newhouse and the M73 at Baillieston including:
  • Dual three-lane motorway between at Chapelhall Junction and Eurocentral where the flows from the proposed Ravenscraig and Newhouse developments would join the motorway
  • Widening further to four lanes between Eurocentral and Shawhead junctions to cater for the weaving traffic between these two junctions and the traffic from the Eurocentral development
  • An improved junction layout at Shawhead
  • A network of new and improved pedestrian and cycle facilities
  • A new grade separated junction at  Raith to complement the new Motorway by providing a separate route for all A725 traffic wanting to pass directly through the M74 at the Raith Interchange Roundabout
  • A new segregated cycleway/walkway facility over the junction to provide safe access between Bothwell and Strathclyde Country Park
  • Associated improvements on the adjacent M73 and M74 to improve connections between the M8 and other Central Scotland Schemes such as the M74 Completion Scheme and the M80 improvement.

Project benefits 
The M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements will provide substantial benefits across the whole of the Central Belt of Scotland as well as wider economic benefits for the whole of Scotland.

Key benefits include:

• Improving journey times and journey time reliability through the Central Scotland motorway network
• Helping promote sustainable economic growth by improving access to facilities and employment areas
• Reducing emissions and tackling climate change by improving air quality and providing health improvement
• Reducing the time to transport goods and services
• Better connectivity between Glasgow and Edinburgh and to the south
• Cutting congestion
• Improving road safety through the reduction of traffic on local roads, reducing lane changing and helping prevent weaving between lanes. 

Status
These details are available from the programme document.

Impact on travel
Improved journey times, more reliable journey times and improved safety.

Traffic management
At this stage it is unknown but it is likely to be complex in the Shawhead area.

Environmental impact
The assessment of the environmental impact of the project is presented in the Environmental Statement for each of the construction elements of the project - the upgrade to motorway status of the A8 between Baillieston and Newhouse, improvements to the M74 Raith Interchange and to other key sections of the existing M8, M73 and M74.

Road orders
Road orders for the scheme are available on this site.

Public Local Inquiry (PLI)
Copies of the PLI decision letter, the Reporter's report and annexes are linked as indicated.

Contact
For more information please contact -

Major Transport Infrastructure Projects (MTRIPS)
Transport Scotland
Buchanan House
58 Port Dundas Road
Glasgow
G4 0HF

Tel: 0141 272 7100
Email: info@transportscotland.gsi.gov.uk