Transport Scotland has opened the ‘missing link’ section of the M8 motorway, meaning that Glasgow and Edinburgh are now fully connected with uninterrupted motorway for the first time.
Vehicles were allowed onto the eastbound carriageway of the stretch of motorway for the first time on Sunday morning (30 April), a week after the westbound carriageway opened.
Both carriageways of the new section of M8 are now open
The opening of the road completes the so-called ‘missing link’ between Edinburgh and Glasgow and means that drivers no longer need to use the old A8 between Newhouse and Baillieston.
Transport Scotland said the new road layout is expected to cut travel times by up to 20 minutes at peak periods and make journey times much more reliable.
The work is part of the Scottish Government’s £500m M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements Project.
Keith Brown, cabinet secretary for economy, jobs and fair work, said: ‘Now the M8 is fully open, commuters between Glasgow and Edinburgh should experience a significant improvement to their journeys between Newhouse and Baillieston Interchange.
‘This has significantly reduced the traffic volume on the A8 so that the contractor can focus on completing upgrades to the existing A8 and linking it to the new all-purpose road, which is a continuation of the A8 at Eurocentral.’
Transport Scotland said temporary speed limits will be still be required at locations across the project to allow remaining works to be completed safely.
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