How long is the new length of motorway built under the scheme?
Approximately 18 kilometres (11.2 miles)
What route does it follow?
View the route.
How many lanes does the road have?
View details of the carriageway.
Where have the junctions been built?
The junctions on the new M80 are at Hornshill, Mollinsburn, Low Wood, Auchenkilns, Old Inns, Castlecary and Haggs. While junctions existed at similar locations on the previous A80, the layout of the new M80 junctions vary significantly in some locations following their improvement under this scheme.
When did it open?
The M80 Stepps to Haggs motorway upgrade was completed on 26 August 2011.
What happens at Castlecary Viaduct and the re-alignment of Castlecary Road (B816)?
The M80 alignment to the west of Castlecary Viaduct has been constructed to improve forward visibility for drivers. Emergency lanes have been provided through adjacent arches of the Castlecary Viaduct to improve the safety of operating of the new road. Protective barriers have also been provided at the viaduct piers.
The 30mph zone and street lighting on the Castlecary Road (B816) have been extended to include the length of this road realigned through the viaduct and also Castlecary Junction. The improvements to Castlecary Junction and the reduced traffic flow through Castlecary Village will result in an improvement in road safety in this area.
Why has the new motorway been increased to three lanes between Mollinsburn and Low Wood Junctions?
The provision of an additional lane for eastbound traffic joining the M80 from the M73 and for westbound traffic from Cumbernauld joining the M80 at Low Wood has improved the safety and operational performance of the motorway and junctions over this length of the scheme. Traffic studies and modelling confirmed this was the busiest section of the previous A80, with considerable volumes of traffic entering and exiting the A80 at these junctions.
Will the termination of climbing lane/auxillairy lane create congestion?
On the westbound carriageway the auxillairy lane has been provided, for a distance of approximately 1.6km, from Castlecary Viaduct to Old Inns Junction, where this lane drops as the exit slip road to Old Inns Junction. In the eastbound direction, a climbing lane is provided from the Castlecary merge slip road, which acts as a lane gain, to north of Haggs Junction where it ties into the existing three-lane carriageway of the M80.
In both cases traffic does not have to merge into a reducing number of lanes, which will avoid this being a cause of congestion.
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