Months of roadworks ... on NEW motorways

DRIVERS are facing months of misery as some of Scotland’s busiest motorways are – yet again – hit by major roadworks.

After years of delays, tailbacks, closures and go-slows, a £500 million programme of improvements to the M8, M73 and M74, east of Glasgow, was officially completed last May.

Now however, just a year after it was opened, commuters on the motorway network face a fresh wave of traffic bans, overtaking bans and temporary speed limits.

Roads quango Transport Scotland claims the measures, due to last until November, are ‘finishing works’ and ‘maintenance’. But critics say roadworks are further evidence of the SNP’s poor handling of major infrastructure projects.

A spokesman for drivers’ lobby group IAM Roadsmart said: ‘It’s going to be a painful September and October for motorists. We understand their frustration.’

An AA spokesman said: ‘Some drivers will say they have been given a taste of highway heaven, and now three months of highway hell.’

Jamie Greene, Scottish Conservative transport spokesman, said: ‘Motorists will be furious with SNP ministers, who only just last year were lapping up the glory at the opening of these motorways upgrades, as they have to endure more months of

‘Three months of highway hell for drivers’

disruption to their travel. It’s not the first time a major infrastructure project has opened and then endured months of disruption.’

The restrictions focus on the M8 between Baillieston and Bargeddie; the M73 between Maryville and Mollinsburn; and the M74 between Daldowie and Hamilton, all Lanarkshire.

However, Transport Scotland insisted that, where possible, work would take place both outside peak travelling hours and overnight. A spokesman said: ‘We are committed to delivering projects as soon as possible. Road users are enjoying the significant benefits of the scheme, including improved journey times and journey time reliability, improved road safety and connectivity.’