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{{short description|Busiest motorway in Scotland}}
__NOTOC__
{{Use British English|date=May 2014}}
The '''M8''' is a [[motorway]] in [[Scotland]]. It runs west from [[Edinburgh]], connecting [[Livingston]], [[Airdrie, Scotland|Airdrie]], [[Coatbridge]], [[Glasgow]] and [[Paisley]], finishing 13 km (8 miles) west of [[Greenock]], on the south bank of the [[River Clyde]]. The M8 was largely completed by [[1970]]. Together with the as-yet unbuilt extension to the [[M74 motorway|M74]], the M8 forms two sides of an uncompleted ring road around Glasgow city centre.
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{infobox road
|country=SCT
|type=M
|route=8
|map={{maplink-road|from=M8 motorway (Scotland).map}}
|map_custom=yes
|map_notes=M8 highlighted in blue
|photo= The M8 motorway in Glasgow - geograph.org.uk - 3604193.jpg
|photo_notes = The M8 motorway looking towards [[Glasgow]] City Centre
|maint= [[Transport Scotland]]
|length_mi= 60.3
|direction_a= East
|terminus_a= [[Sighthill, Edinburgh|Sighthill]]<br />{{coord|55.9244|-3.3128|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline|name=M8 motorway (eastern end)}}
|counties= [[Edinburgh]], [[West Lothian]], [[North Lanarkshire]], [[Glasgow]], [[Renfrewshire]]
|destinations= [[Edinburgh]]<br />[[Edinburgh Airport]]<br />[[Livingston, Scotland|Livingston]]<br />[[Glasgow]]<br />[[Paisley, Renfrewshire|Paisley]]<br />[[Glasgow Airport]]<br /> [[Greenock]]
|direction_b= West
|terminus_b= [[Langbank]]<br />{{coord|55.9234|-4.5504|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline|name=M8 motorway (western end)}}
|established= 1965
|history=Opened: 1965<br />Completed: 2017
|junction= [[File:Junction 2.svg|1000x20px]] [[File:UK-Motorway-M9.svg|1000x20px]]<br />J2 → [[M9 motorway (Scotland)|M9 motorway]]<br />[[File:Junction 8.svg|1000x20px]] [[File:UK-Motorway-M73.svg|1000x20px]]/[[File:UK-Motorway-A8(M).svg|1000x20px]]<br />J8 → [[M73 motorway]]/A8(M) motorway<br />[[File:Junction 13.svg|1000x20px]] [[File:UK-Motorway-M80.svg|1000x20px]]<br />J13 → [[M80 motorway]]<br />[[File:Junction 21.svg|1000x20px]] [[File:UK-Motorway-M74.svg|1000x20px]]<br />J21 → [[M74 motorway]]<br />[[File:Junction 22.svg|1000x20px]] [[File:UK-Motorway-M77.svg|1000x20px]]<br />J22 → [[M77 motorway]]<br />[[File:Junction 30.svg|1000x20px]] [[File:UK-Motorway-M898.svg|1000x20px]]<br />J30 → [[M898 motorway]]
|e-road= {{Jct|country=EUR|E|05}} and {{Jct|country=EUR|E|16}}
|previous_type = M
|previous_route = 6 Toll
|next_type= M
|next_route = 9
|next_dab=Scotland
}}
[[File:M8 Motorway and Union Canal.JPG|thumb|The M8 south of [[Broxburn, West Lothian]]]]
[[File:Wfm kingston bridge.jpg|thumb|[[Kingston Bridge, Glasgow|Kingston Bridge]]]]
[[File:M8 Motorway, Charing Cross (geograph 4791827).jpg | thumb |M8 motorway from [[Charing Cross, Glasgow| Charing Cross, Glasgow]]]]
[[File:Clyde from M8, Dumbarton.jpg|thumb|M8 nearing the west terminus of the motorway at [[Langbank]], with views over the Clyde]]
The '''M8''' is the busiest [[motorway]] in Scotland.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/road-traffic-estimates-in-great-britain-2021|title=Road traffic estimates in Great Britain: 2021 tables|publisher=Department for Transport | access-date = 13 February 2023}}</ref> It connects the country's two largest cities, [[Glasgow]] and [[Edinburgh]], and serves other large communities including [[Airdrie, North Lanarkshire|Airdrie]], [[Coatbridge]], [[Greenock]], [[Livingston, Scotland|Livingston]] and [[Paisley, Renfrewshire|Paisley]]. The motorway is {{convert|60|mi|km}} long. A major construction project to build the final section between [[Newhouse, North Lanarkshire|Newhouse]] and [[Baillieston]] was completed on 30 April 2017. The motorway has one service station, [[Heart of Scotland services|Heart of Scotland Services]], previously named Harthill due to its proximity to [[Harthill, Scotland|the village]].


==History==
Regarded as one of the most poorly-designed motorways in the [[United Kingdom|UK]], rivalled only by London's infamous [[M25 motorway|M25]], the Central Glasgow section of the M8 is notorious for bottlenecks and delays between the M8's eastern and western sections. This is largely due to the closely spaced junctions, and the fact that both the [[M73 motorway|M73]] and [[M80 motorway|M80]] from the south and north east dump all their traffic onto a 5-lane stretch that in the space of a 3 km (2 miles) reduces to only 2 lanes as the M8 blasts a path through the city centre.
With the advent of motorway-building in the United Kingdom in the late 1950s, the M8 was planned as one of a core of new motorways, designed to replace the [[A8 road (Great Britain)|A8 road]] as a high-capacity alternative for intercity travel. The motorway was constructed piecemeal in several stages [[bypass (road)|bypassing]] towns, beginning in 1965 with the opening by [[Under-Secretary of State for Scotland|Minister of State for Scotland]] [[George Willis (politician)|George Willis]] of the bypass of [[Harthill, Scotland|Harthill]]. In 1968 the Renfrew Bypass was opened as the A8(M), becoming part of the M8 when the motorway to the west was connected.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}} The Glasgow inner city section was constructed between 1968 and 1972, using a scheme outlined in the [[Bruce Report]], which was published as the [[Second World War]] was closing, and which set out a series of initiatives to regenerate the city.<ref>[https://www.theglasgowstory.com/image/?inum=TGSS00002&t=2 Townhead, c 1970], The Glasgow Story</ref> Bruce's scheme evolved into what would become the [[Glasgow Inner Ring Road]], a motorway "box" which would encircle the city centre, connected to the Renfrew Bypass at its south western corner, and the Monkland Motorway (built over the former route of the [[Monkland Canal]]) towards Edinburgh at its north eastern corner. Together, these three sections of motorway make up the present day M8.


Most of the motorway's length was complete by 1980. Since then, there has been a new [[interchange (road)|interchange]] with the [[M80 motorway]] added in 1992, a {{convert|4|mi|km|adj=on}} eastern extension from [[Newbridge, Edinburgh|Newbridge]] to the then-new [[Edinburgh City Bypass]] in 1995, and the new junction on the approach to the [[Kingston Bridge, Glasgow|Kingston Bridge]] in Glasgow connecting to the new M74 extension in 2011.<ref>[http://www.cbrd.co.uk/motorway/m8/timeline.shtml M8 motorway construction timeline] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061009152655/http://www.cbrd.co.uk/motorway/m8/timeline.shtml |date=9 October 2006 }}, CRBD.co.uk</ref> As part of the Scottish Government's 'M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements programme', on which construction began in early 2015,<ref name="transportscotland.gov.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/m8m73m74/keeping-communities-informed|title=Keeping communities informed|work=transportscotland.gov.uk|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150217180202/http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/m8m73m74/keeping-communities-informed|archive-date=17 February 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> the remaining unfinished section between Baillieston (J8) and Newhouse (J6) was built, alongside other major improvements enhancing connectivity to the local road network, M73, and M74.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/project/m8-m73-m74-motorway-improvements|title=M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements|work=transportscotland.gov.uk}}</ref><ref>[https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/new-aerial-footage-m8-m73-9563413 New aerial footage as M8 M73 M74 project nears completion], Daily Record, 5 January 2017</ref> The new section was fully opened on 30 April 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-39762350|title=M8 'missing link' opens fully to traffic|work=BBC News |date=30 April 2017}}</ref> On 6 December 2019, the Southbar interchange (J29a) was reopened to facilitate regeneration in the [[Bishopton, Renfrewshire|Bishopton]] area, having been previously closed during the 1970s.<ref>{{cite web |title=M8 J29A Southbar Interchange |url=https://www.roads.org.uk/road-schemes/m8-j29a-southbar-interchange |website=Roads.org.uk |publisher=Roads.org.uk |access-date=16 December 2019}}</ref>
The northern extension of the M74 to just south of the [[Kingston Bridge, Glasgow|Kingston Bridge]] should alleviate some of the congestion problems, but this is not planned to be completed until [[2008]].


==Route==
To cross the [[River Clyde]] at [[Glasgow]] [[city centre]], the M8 incorporates the [[Kingston Bridge, Glasgow|Kingston Bridge]], the busiest motorway river crossing in [[Europe]].
[[File:M8_motorway_(Great_Britain)_map.svg|thumb|alt=M8 Route map|M8 Route map]]


From the Edinburgh City Bypass, the road runs west to junction with the [[M9 motorway (Scotland)|M9 motorway]] (for the [[Forth Road Bridge]]), bypassing to the north of [[Livingston, Scotland|Livingston]] and south of [[Bathgate]]. It continues across Scotland's [[Central Belt]]. The next section – originally designated the Monkland Motorway – begins on the boundary of the [[Glasgow City council area]] at the [[M73 motorway]] junction (the main interchange for all routes south via the [[M74 motorway]]) before passing through the districts of [[Barlanark]], [[Riddrie]], [[Dennistoun]] and [[Townhead]] (following the route of the abandoned [[Monkland Canal]]) on the way directly into the [[Central business district|city centre]]. The central section – the uncompleted Glasgow Inner Ring Road – contains numerous junctions serving local communities including [[Cowcaddens]], [[Garnethill]], [[Kelvingrove, Glasgow|Kelvingrove]] and [[Anderston]]. It then crosses the [[River Clyde]] on the [[Kingston Bridge, Glasgow|Kingston Bridge]], runs west through [[Kinning Park]], [[Bellahouston]] and [[Hillington, Glasgow|Hillington]] before leaving Glasgow. Continuing west, it bypasses [[Renfrew, Scotland|Renfrew]] and [[Paisley, Renfrewshire|Paisley]] (carrying traffic directly over what was the main runway at [[Renfrew Airport]], closed in 1966) before serving [[Glasgow International Airport]], running to the south of [[Erskine, Renfrewshire|Erskine]], and terminating at [[Langbank]], around {{convert|10|mi|km}} east of [[Greenock]].<ref>[http://www.cbrd.co.uk/motorway/m8/exitlist.shtml M8 motorway exit list] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061009152659/http://www.cbrd.co.uk/motorway/m8/exitlist.shtml |date=9 October 2006 }}, CBRD.co.uk</ref>
The M8 closely parallels, and in part replaces, the [[A8 road]]. The M8 is broken at one point, at the eastern edge of Glasgow between [[Baillieston]] and Newhouse, where it reverts to the being the A8 for 10 km (6 miles) before becoming a motorway again near [[Shotts]]. An upgrade programme instigated in late [[2002]] improved the quality of this section of road greatly, but it remained an A-classified dual carriageway, and the long overdue task of upgrading this section to motorway standard has been a thorny issue for the [[Scottish Executive]], who continue to procrastinate over making a decision.


The M8 nominally comprises sections of the [[international E-road network]], namely [[European route E05|E05]] (Langbank-Baillieston)<ref>[http://www.elbruz.org/eroads/E05.htm E05 route descriptor], elbruz.com</ref> and [[European route E16|E16]] (Baillieston-Edinburgh),<ref>[http://www.elbruz.org/eroads/E16.htm E16 route descriptor], elbruz.com</ref> although neither is signposted – no such roads are in the United Kingdom.
==Trivia==


==Criticism==
*The Central Glasgow section of the M8 was the one of the first motorways in the UK to feature the advanced CITRAC (Centrally Integrated TRAffic Control) system. A network of CCTV cameras around the motorway and its primary feeder routes is linked to a central Police control room, who can use it to identify problems and activate the system of overhead lane signals above the motorway. It is linked to the NADICS system.
{{criticism section|date=November 2020}}
[[File:M8WestStreetRamps.jpg|thumb|This [[unused highway|stub]] in the Tradeston area, popularly known as the "ski-ramp", is the abandoned interchange for the southern flank of the [[Glasgow Inner Ring Road]]]]
The central Glasgow section of the M8 is unusual amongst UK motorways (and more similar to many US Interstates) in that it directly bisects an urban city centre, whereas most other motorways bypass such centres. This section is mainly elevated on a concrete [[viaduct]], lowering pollution concentrations but exposing some public spaces, roof terraces and other parts of buildings to noise and shading.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}


Some slip roads in the Glasgow section unusually enter and exit from the overtaking ([[Driving on the left or right|right-hand]]) lane.
* Several redundant bridges were built over the city centre section of the M8, but were never put to use. The infamous "Bridge to Nowhere" (in the Charing Cross district) was intended to be the platform for a restaurant which would look down onto the motorway. It never materialised. In [[1990]], an office block was eventually built atop the bridge.


The motorway includes one of the busiest river crossings in [[Europe]], Glasgow's [[Kingston Bridge, Glasgow|Kingston Bridge]].
* Despite the fact that the Inner Ring Road project was never completed, signs on the city centre stretches of the M8 and its feeder roads still carried the words "Ring Road" until the late 1980s before they were finally removed.


Several incomplete structures were built around the motorway - at least 3 have been demolished or reused from the 1960s dubbed [[M8 Bridge to Nowhere|Bridges to Nowhere]]. A few incomplete structures remain.
* A dead-end flyover was built onto the end of the Kingston Bridge in anticipation of the M74 extension. 34 years on, it still waits for the elusive motorway connection to be built.


The cause of most [[traffic congestion]] on the urban section is traffic from the M73 and M80 routes onto the eastern section of M8 which within {{convert|2|mi|km}} reduces from five lanes to two on the Kingston Bridge approaches. Prior to the construction of the M74 extension, attempts were made to minimise delays on this section; these included restricting exits around the Kingston Bridge, a [[ramp meter]]ing programme, and expanded use of electronic signing above and beside the motorway as part of the CITRAC (''Centrally Integrated TRAffic Control'') system.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Residents/GettingAround/Traffic/CITRAC/ |title=Living in Glasgow – CITRAC |publisher=Glasgow.gov.uk |date=25 August 2009 |access-date=31 December 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trafficscotland.org/vms/index.aspx?type=7|title=Traffic Scotland > Variable Message Signs|work=trafficscotland.org}}</ref>
* The perfectly straight section of motorway between Junctions 26 and 27 in [[Renfrewshire]] was originally the runway of the former [[Renfrew Airport]], which closed in [[1966]], following the opening of [[Glasgow Airport]] a few miles further west. Hillington Industrial Estate, which looks on to this section of the M8 and still includes the [[Rolls Royce]] plant, originally started its life as the aircraft engineering facility within the airport complex.


The M8 is also criticised as a barrier to wildlife access (for example the reintroduced beaver) from the north of Scotland to the [[Southern Uplands]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.transport.gov.scot/media/13093/ch9.pdf|title=Effects on Flora and Fauna|date=March 2015|access-date=4 October 2023|publisher=transport.gov.scot}}</ref>
* A picture of the M8 is featured on Glasgow band [[Deacon Blue]]'s famous 1987 album "Raintown", where a stunning nighttime long-exposure image of the northern approach to the Kingston Bridge taken from the aforementioned "Bridge to Nowhere" appears on the back cover of the album.


==Problems solved==
* In the aftermath of the M8's completion, the UK Government declared that it would be the last motorway to be built through a UK city.
Successive failed attempts were made to build the southern flank of the Glasgow Inner Ring Road envisaged by the Bruce Report of the late 1940s. The eastern section had been planned to run north–south close to the High Street of Glasgow, through or under Glasgow Green to the southside of the Clyde. Public opinion was strongly against this and the eastern section was shelved, with a much later [[M74 motorway|M74]] connecting the far-eastern areas of Glasgow. This section, which is an extension of the M74 was built to a different route, intended to funnel long-distance traffic from the north and south which is bound for the southern Clyde Coast and allow it to bypass the urban section of the M8. Following many years of intensive political discussion and legal battles, the M74 completion began in 2008 and opened in June 2011. Indications are that the new road has been successful in reducing traffic levels on the urban section of the M8.


==Junctions==
''See also: [[List of motorways in the United Kingdom]]''
{{Cleanup road junction list|date=December 2021}}


{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto; text-align:center;"
==Key M8 milestones==
|- style="background:#164aff; text-align:center; color:white; font-size:120%;"

| colspan="3" | '''M8 motorway'''
* 1970 Central Glasgow section completed
|- style="background:#0080d0; text-align:center; color:white;"
* 1990 Kingston Bridge found to be deteriorating, signalling major repair work
| Eastbound exits
* 1991 M8 extended to Hermiston Gait, Edinburgh city bypass
| Junction
* 1992 Plantation off-ramp demolished to be replaced by [[M80 motorway|M80]] Stepps by-pass
| Westbound exits
* 1993 St. James' Interchange near [[Paisley]] and [[Linwood]] opens
|- style="text-align:center;"
* 2003 A8 between Baillieston and Newhouse upgraded to almost-motorway standard
| '' M8 now terminates'' <br /> [[Edinburgh City Bypass|Edinburgh City Bypass A720]] <br /> [[Berwick upon Tweed]] ([[A1 road (Great Britain)|A1]]) <br /> [[Edinburgh]] City Centre [[A71 road|A71]]
| J1 (Hermiston Gait)
|''Start of motorway''
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[Edinburgh Airport]], [[Stirling]], [[Queensferry Crossing]] ([[M90 motorway|M90]]) [[M9 motorway (Scotland)|M9]]
|J2 (Newbridge)
| Stirling, Queensferry Crossing (M90) M9
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[Livingston, Scotland|Livingston]] [[A899 road (Great Britain)|A899]]
|J3 (Livingston)
| Livingston A899
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[Bathgate]], [[Broxburn, West Lothian|Broxburn]], Livingston (West) ([[A779 road|A779]]) [[A89 road (Great Britain)|A89]]
|J3a (Bathgate)
| Bathgate, Broxburn, Livingston (West) (A89) A779
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Bathgate, [[Whitburn, West Lothian|Whitburn]], [[Falkirk]] [[A801 road|A801]]
|J4 (Whitburn)
| Bathgate, Whitburn, Falkirk A801
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Whitburn, Heartlands (B7066)
|J4a (Heartlands)
| Whitburn, Heartlands ([[B7066 road|B7066]])
|- style="text-align:center;"
|colspan=3 | [[Harthill services]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[Shotts]], [[Harthill, Scotland|Harthill]], [[Salsburgh]] ([[B7066 road|B7066]]) [[List of B roads in Great Britain|B7057]]
|J5 (Harthill)
| Shotts, Harthill, Salsburgh (B7066) B7057
|- style="text-align:center;"
|{{no2}}No access
|J6 (Newhouse)
| [[Airdrie, North Lanarkshire|Airdrie]], [[Lanark]], [[Motherwell]], [[Wishaw]], [[Eurocentral]] ([[A723 road|A723]]) [[A73 road|A73]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Lanark, Wishaw, Motherwell, Airdrie [[A8 road (Scotland)|A8]] (A73)
|J6a (Chapelhall)
|{{no2}}No access
|- style="text-align:center;"
|Eurocentral
|J7 (Eurocentral)
|{{no2}}No access
|- style="text-align:center;"
|{{no2}}No access
|J7a (Shawhead)
| [[Carlisle, Cumbria|Carlisle]] ([[M74 motorway|M74]]), [[East Kilbride]], [[Bellshill]] [[A725 road|A725]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[M73 motorway|M73]] ([[M74 motorway|M74]]) [[Carlisle]]
[[A8 road (Scotland)|A8]] [[Coatbridge]]
|J8 (Ballieston)
| [[M73 motorway|M73]] ([[M74 motorway|M74]]) [[Carlisle]], [[Glasgow]] (South), [[Glasgow International Airport|Glasgow Airport]]<br />[[M73 motorway|M73]] ([[M80 motorway|M80]]) [[Stirling]], [[Kincardine Bridge]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[Baillieston]]
|J9 (Easterhouse)
|{{no2}}No access
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Easterhouse, [[Barlanark]]
|J10 (Bartiebeith)
| Easterhouse, Baillieston
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[Garthamlock]], [[Queenslie]] [[List of B roads in Great Britain|B765]]
|J11 (Stepps)
| [[Stepps]], Queenslie B765
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[Riddrie]], [[Stepps]] [[A80 road (Great Britain)|A80]]
|J12 (Riddrie)
| Riddrie, Stepps A80
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[Stirling]], [[Kincardine Bridge]] [[M80 motorway|M80]]
|J13 (Provan)
| [[Blochairn]], [[Parkhead]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Blochairn, [[Dennistoun]] [[List of B roads in Great Britain|B763]]
|J14 (Fruit Market)
|{{no2}}No access
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[St. Mungo's Cathedral, Glasgow|Glasgow Cathedral]], [[Glasgow Cross]], [[Kirkintilloch]] [[A803 road|A803]]
|J15 (Townhead)
| Glasgow Cathedral, Glasgow Cross A803
|- style="text-align:center;"
|{{no2}}No access
|J16 (Craighall)
| [[Aberfoyle, Stirling|Aberfoyle]], [[George Square]] ([[A81 road (Great Britain)|A81]])
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[Dumbarton]] [[A82 road (Great Britain)|A82]]
|J17 (Great Western Road)
| Dumbarton A82
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[Anderston]], Charing Cross (''Access from J20 on-ramp only'') <br /> [[Glasgow]] City Centre (''Accessible all routes'')
|J18 (Charing Cross)
| [[Kelvingrove, Glasgow|Kelvingrove]], [[Charing Cross, Glasgow|Charing Cross]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| {{no2}}[[Clydebank]], [[Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre|S.E.C.C.]] [[A814 road|A814]]<br />(''Access from J20 on-ramp only'')
|J19 (Anderston)
| Clydebank, S.E.C.C. A814
|- style="text-align:center;"
|{{no2}}No access
|J20 (Kingston Bridge)
| [[Tradeston]], [[East Kilbride]] ([[A730 road|A730]]), [[Carlisle]] ([[A74(M) and M74 motorways|M74]])
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[Kinning Park]]/[[Kilmarnock]] ([[M77 motorway|M77]])<br /> [[Tradeston]] [[A8 road (Scotland)|A8]], [[Carlisle]] [[A74(M) and M74 motorways|M74]]<br />(''Access splits from main carriageway immediately following '''J23'''.<br />Kinning Park/(M77) and M74 exit separately, split terminates in A8 exit'')
|J21 (Seaward Street)
|{{no2}}No access
|- style="text-align:center;"
|{{no2}}No access <br /> (''Traffic for [[M77 motorway|M77]] can exit at J21 (Kinning Park) and use dedicated loop route under the M8'')
|J22 (Plantation)
| [[Kilmarnock]], [[Glasgow Prestwick International Airport|Prestwick Airport]] [[M77 motorway|M77]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
|{{no2}}No access
|J23 (Dumbreck Road)
| {{no2}}[[Govan]], [[Ibrox, Glasgow|Ibrox]] [[List of B roads in Great Britain|B768]] <br /> (''Access from J21 on-ramps & [[A74(M) and M74 motorways|M74]] only'')
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Govan [[A761 road|A761]], [[Kilmarnock]] ([[M77 motorway|M77]])
|J24 (Helen Street)
| [[Paisley, Renfrewshire|Paisley]], [[Bellahouston]] A761
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[Clyde Tunnel]] [[A739 road|A739]]
|J25 (Cardonald)
| Clyde Tunnel A739
|- style="text-align:center;"
|{{no2}}No access
|J25a (Braehead)
| [[Braehead]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[Hillington, Glasgow|Hillington]], Braehead [[A736 road|A736]]
|J26 (Hillington)
| Hillington, Renfrew (A8) A736
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[Paisley, Renfrewshire|Paisley]], Renfrew [[A741 road|A741]]
|J27 (Arkleston)
| Paisley, Renfrew A741
|- style="text-align:center;"
|{{no2}}No access
|J28 (Glasgow Airport)
| Glasgow Airport
|- style="text-align:center;"
|{{no2}}No access
|J28a
| [[Irvine, North Ayrshire|Irvine]] [[A737 road|A737]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[Paisley, Renfrewshire|Paisley]], Glasgow Airport [[A726 road|A726]], [[Irvine, North Ayrshire|Irvine]] A737
|J29 (St James)
| Paisley A726
|- style="text-align:center;"
|-
|{{no2}}No access
|J29a
|[[Bishopton, Renfrewshire|Bishopton]] A8
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[Erskine, Renfrewshire|Erskine]], [[Erskine Bridge]] [[M898 motorway|M898]]
|J30 (Erskine)
| Erskine, Erskine Bridge M898
|- style="text-align:center;"
|''Start of motorway''
|rowspan=2|J31 (West Ferry)
| Bishopton A8
|- style="text-align:center;"
| Bishopton A8<br />''Non-motorway traffic''
|''Road becomes A8 towards [[Greenock]]''
|}


==See also==
==See also==
*[[List of motorways in the United Kingdom]]


==References==
*[[Kingston Bridge, Glasgow|Kingston Bridge]]
{{reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{GeoGroup}}
{{Attached KML|display=inline,title}}
*[http://www.scottishroadsarchive.org/m8 Scottish Roads Archive - The M8 Motorway]
*CBRD
**[http://www.cbrd.co.uk/motorway/m8/ Motorway Database – M8]
**[https://web.archive.org/web/20061009150724/http://www.cbrd.co.uk/media/video/glasgow.shtml Videos – M8]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070314094831/http://pathetic.org.uk/motorways/a8m-renfrew.shtml Pathetic Motorways – A8(M) Renfrew Bypass]
*The Motorway Archive – M8
**[https://web.archive.org/web/20070316122624/http://www.iht.org/motorway/m8glasedineast.htm Eastern Scotland Section]
**[https://web.archive.org/web/20060901193359/http://www.iht.org/motorway/m8glasedin.htm Western Scotland Section]


{{UK motorways}}
*[http://www.cbrd.co.uk/motorway/8.shtml CBRD Motorway Database - M8]
{{Transport in Edinburgh}}
*[http://www.emmar.org.uk/m8_motorway.htm Photos of Glasgow during the M8 construction]
{{Transport in Glasgow}}
*[http://www.nadics.org NAtional Driver Information and Control System (NADICS)]


{{DEFAULTSORT:8-0008M}}
[[Category:UK motorways|8]]
[[Category:Transport in Scotland]]
[[Category:Motorways in Scotland]]
[[Category:Transport in Edinburgh]]
[[Category:Transport in Glasgow]]
[[Category:Transport in Renfrewshire]]
[[Category:Transport in West Lothian]]
[[Category:Transport in North Lanarkshire]]

Latest revision as of 14:19, 21 May 2025

M8 shield
M8
Map
M8 highlighted in blue
The M8 motorway in Glasgow - geograph.org.uk - 3604193.jpg
The M8 motorway looking towards Glasgow City Centre
Route information
Part of E05 and E16
Maintained by Transport Scotland
Length60.3 mi (97.0 km)
Existed1965–present
HistoryOpened: 1965
Completed: 2017
Major junctions
East endSighthill
55°55′28″N 3°18′46″W / 55.9244°N 3.3128°W / 55.9244; -3.3128 (M8 motorway (eastern end))
Major intersections
J2 → M9 motorway
/
J8 → M73 motorway/A8(M) motorway

J13 → M80 motorway

J21 → M74 motorway

J22 → M77 motorway

J30 → M898 motorway
West endLangbank
55°55′24″N 4°33′01″W / 55.9234°N 4.5504°W / 55.9234; -4.5504 (M8 motorway (western end))
Location
CountryUnited Kingdom
Constituent countryScotland
CountiesEdinburgh, West Lothian, North Lanarkshire, Glasgow, Renfrewshire
Primary
destinations		Edinburgh
Edinburgh Airport
Livingston
Glasgow
Paisley
Glasgow Airport
Greenock
Road network
← M6 Toll→ M9
The M8 south of Broxburn, West Lothian
Kingston Bridge
M8 motorway from Charing Cross, Glasgow
M8 nearing the west terminus of the motorway at Langbank, with views over the Clyde

The M8 is the busiest motorway in Scotland.[1] It connects the country's two largest cities, Glasgow and Edinburgh, and serves other large communities including Airdrie, Coatbridge, Greenock, Livingston and Paisley. The motorway is 60 miles (97 km) long. A major construction project to build the final section between Newhouse and Baillieston was completed on 30 April 2017. The motorway has one service station, Heart of Scotland Services, previously named Harthill due to its proximity to the village.

History

[edit]

With the advent of motorway-building in the United Kingdom in the late 1950s, the M8 was planned as one of a core of new motorways, designed to replace the A8 road as a high-capacity alternative for intercity travel. The motorway was constructed piecemeal in several stages bypassing towns, beginning in 1965 with the opening by Minister of State for Scotland George Willis of the bypass of Harthill. In 1968 the Renfrew Bypass was opened as the A8(M), becoming part of the M8 when the motorway to the west was connected.[citation needed] The Glasgow inner city section was constructed between 1968 and 1972, using a scheme outlined in the Bruce Report, which was published as the Second World War was closing, and which set out a series of initiatives to regenerate the city.[2] Bruce's scheme evolved into what would become the Glasgow Inner Ring Road, a motorway "box" which would encircle the city centre, connected to the Renfrew Bypass at its south western corner, and the Monkland Motorway (built over the former route of the Monkland Canal) towards Edinburgh at its north eastern corner. Together, these three sections of motorway make up the present day M8.

Most of the motorway's length was complete by 1980. Since then, there has been a new interchange with the M80 motorway added in 1992, a 4-mile (6.4 km) eastern extension from Newbridge to the then-new Edinburgh City Bypass in 1995, and the new junction on the approach to the Kingston Bridge in Glasgow connecting to the new M74 extension in 2011.[3] As part of the Scottish Government's 'M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements programme', on which construction began in early 2015,[4] the remaining unfinished section between Baillieston (J8) and Newhouse (J6) was built, alongside other major improvements enhancing connectivity to the local road network, M73, and M74.[5][6] The new section was fully opened on 30 April 2017.[7] On 6 December 2019, the Southbar interchange (J29a) was reopened to facilitate regeneration in the Bishopton area, having been previously closed during the 1970s.[8]

Route

[edit]
M8 Route map
M8 Route map

From the Edinburgh City Bypass, the road runs west to junction with the M9 motorway (for the Forth Road Bridge), bypassing to the north of Livingston and south of Bathgate. It continues across Scotland's Central Belt. The next section – originally designated the Monkland Motorway – begins on the boundary of the Glasgow City council area at the M73 motorway junction (the main interchange for all routes south via the M74 motorway) before passing through the districts of Barlanark, Riddrie, Dennistoun and Townhead (following the route of the abandoned Monkland Canal) on the way directly into the city centre. The central section – the uncompleted Glasgow Inner Ring Road – contains numerous junctions serving local communities including Cowcaddens, Garnethill, Kelvingrove and Anderston. It then crosses the River Clyde on the Kingston Bridge, runs west through Kinning Park, Bellahouston and Hillington before leaving Glasgow. Continuing west, it bypasses Renfrew and Paisley (carrying traffic directly over what was the main runway at Renfrew Airport, closed in 1966) before serving Glasgow International Airport, running to the south of Erskine, and terminating at Langbank, around 10 miles (16 km) east of Greenock.[9]

The M8 nominally comprises sections of the international E-road network, namely E05 (Langbank-Baillieston)[10] and E16 (Baillieston-Edinburgh),[11] although neither is signposted – no such roads are in the United Kingdom.

Criticism

[edit]
This stub in the Tradeston area, popularly known as the "ski-ramp", is the abandoned interchange for the southern flank of the Glasgow Inner Ring Road

The central Glasgow section of the M8 is unusual amongst UK motorways (and more similar to many US Interstates) in that it directly bisects an urban city centre, whereas most other motorways bypass such centres. This section is mainly elevated on a concrete viaduct, lowering pollution concentrations but exposing some public spaces, roof terraces and other parts of buildings to noise and shading.[citation needed]

Some slip roads in the Glasgow section unusually enter and exit from the overtaking (right-hand) lane.

The motorway includes one of the busiest river crossings in Europe, Glasgow's Kingston Bridge.

Several incomplete structures were built around the motorway - at least 3 have been demolished or reused from the 1960s dubbed Bridges to Nowhere. A few incomplete structures remain.

The cause of most traffic congestion on the urban section is traffic from the M73 and M80 routes onto the eastern section of M8 which within 2 miles (3.2 km) reduces from five lanes to two on the Kingston Bridge approaches. Prior to the construction of the M74 extension, attempts were made to minimise delays on this section; these included restricting exits around the Kingston Bridge, a ramp metering programme, and expanded use of electronic signing above and beside the motorway as part of the CITRAC (Centrally Integrated TRAffic Control) system.[12][13]

The M8 is also criticised as a barrier to wildlife access (for example the reintroduced beaver) from the north of Scotland to the Southern Uplands.[14]

Problems solved

[edit]

Successive failed attempts were made to build the southern flank of the Glasgow Inner Ring Road envisaged by the Bruce Report of the late 1940s. The eastern section had been planned to run north–south close to the High Street of Glasgow, through or under Glasgow Green to the southside of the Clyde. Public opinion was strongly against this and the eastern section was shelved, with a much later M74 connecting the far-eastern areas of Glasgow. This section, which is an extension of the M74 was built to a different route, intended to funnel long-distance traffic from the north and south which is bound for the southern Clyde Coast and allow it to bypass the urban section of the M8. Following many years of intensive political discussion and legal battles, the M74 completion began in 2008 and opened in June 2011. Indications are that the new road has been successful in reducing traffic levels on the urban section of the M8.

Junctions

[edit]
M8 motorway
Eastbound exits Junction Westbound exits
M8 now terminates
Edinburgh City Bypass A720
Berwick upon Tweed (A1)
Edinburgh City Centre A71 		J1 (Hermiston Gait) Start of motorway
Edinburgh Airport, Stirling, Queensferry Crossing (M90) M9 J2 (Newbridge) Stirling, Queensferry Crossing (M90) M9
Livingston A899 J3 (Livingston) Livingston A899
Bathgate, Broxburn, Livingston (West) (A779) A89 J3a (Bathgate) Bathgate, Broxburn, Livingston (West) (A89) A779
Bathgate, Whitburn, Falkirk A801 J4 (Whitburn) Bathgate, Whitburn, Falkirk A801
Whitburn, Heartlands (B7066) J4a (Heartlands) Whitburn, Heartlands (B7066)
Harthill services
Shotts, Harthill, Salsburgh (B7066) B7057 J5 (Harthill) Shotts, Harthill, Salsburgh (B7066) B7057
No access J6 (Newhouse) Airdrie, Lanark, Motherwell, Wishaw, Eurocentral (A723) A73
Lanark, Wishaw, Motherwell, Airdrie A8 (A73) J6a (Chapelhall) No access
Eurocentral J7 (Eurocentral) No access
No access J7a (Shawhead) Carlisle (M74), East Kilbride, Bellshill A725
M73 (M74) Carlisle

A8 Coatbridge

J8 (Ballieston) M73 (M74) Carlisle, Glasgow (South), Glasgow Airport
M73 (M80) Stirling, Kincardine Bridge
Baillieston J9 (Easterhouse) No access
Easterhouse, Barlanark J10 (Bartiebeith) Easterhouse, Baillieston
Garthamlock, Queenslie B765 J11 (Stepps) Stepps, Queenslie B765
Riddrie, Stepps A80 J12 (Riddrie) Riddrie, Stepps A80
Stirling, Kincardine Bridge M80 J13 (Provan) Blochairn, Parkhead
Blochairn, Dennistoun B763 J14 (Fruit Market) No access
Glasgow Cathedral, Glasgow Cross, Kirkintilloch A803 J15 (Townhead) Glasgow Cathedral, Glasgow Cross A803
No access J16 (Craighall) Aberfoyle, George Square (A81)
Dumbarton A82 J17 (Great Western Road) Dumbarton A82
Anderston, Charing Cross (Access from J20 on-ramp only)
Glasgow City Centre (Accessible all routes) 		J18 (Charing Cross) Kelvingrove, Charing Cross
Clydebank, S.E.C.C. A814
(Access from J20 on-ramp only) 		J19 (Anderston) Clydebank, S.E.C.C. A814
No access J20 (Kingston Bridge) Tradeston, East Kilbride (A730), Carlisle (M74)
Kinning Park/Kilmarnock (M77)
Tradeston A8, Carlisle M74
(Access splits from main carriageway immediately following J23.
Kinning Park/(M77) and M74 exit separately, split terminates in A8 exit) 		J21 (Seaward Street) No access
No access
(Traffic for M77 can exit at J21 (Kinning Park) and use dedicated loop route under the M8) 		J22 (Plantation) Kilmarnock, Prestwick Airport M77
No access J23 (Dumbreck Road) Govan, Ibrox B768
(Access from J21 on-ramps & M74 only)
Govan A761, Kilmarnock (M77) J24 (Helen Street) Paisley, Bellahouston A761
Clyde Tunnel A739 J25 (Cardonald) Clyde Tunnel A739
No access J25a (Braehead) Braehead
Hillington, Braehead A736 J26 (Hillington) Hillington, Renfrew (A8) A736
Paisley, Renfrew A741 J27 (Arkleston) Paisley, Renfrew A741
No access J28 (Glasgow Airport) Glasgow Airport
No access J28a Irvine A737
Paisley, Glasgow Airport A726, Irvine A737 J29 (St James) Paisley A726
No access J29a Bishopton A8
Erskine, Erskine Bridge M898 J30 (Erskine) Erskine, Erskine Bridge M898
Start of motorway J31 (West Ferry) Bishopton A8
Bishopton A8
Non-motorway traffic 		Road becomes A8 towards Greenock

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Road traffic estimates in Great Britain: 2021 tables". Department for Transport. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  2. ^ Townhead, c 1970, The Glasgow Story
  3. ^ M8 motorway construction timeline Archived 9 October 2006 at the Wayback Machine, CRBD.co.uk
  4. ^ "Keeping communities informed". transportscotland.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 17 February 2015.
  5. ^ "M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements". transportscotland.gov.uk.
  6. ^ New aerial footage as M8 M73 M74 project nears completion, Daily Record, 5 January 2017
  7. ^ "M8 'missing link' opens fully to traffic". BBC News. 30 April 2017.
  8. ^ "M8 J29A Southbar Interchange". Roads.org.uk. Roads.org.uk. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  9. ^ M8 motorway exit list Archived 9 October 2006 at the Wayback Machine, CBRD.co.uk
  10. ^ E05 route descriptor, elbruz.com
  11. ^ E16 route descriptor, elbruz.com
  12. ^ "Living in Glasgow – CITRAC". Glasgow.gov.uk. 25 August 2009. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  13. ^ "Traffic Scotland > Variable Message Signs". trafficscotland.org.
  14. ^ "Effects on Flora and Fauna" (PDF). transport.gov.scot. March 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
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