Underpass is now open
A725 traffic flows below M74
Commuters breathed a huge sigh of relief when the first completed part of roadworks at the Raith Interchange opened to drivers last week.
Following a complex threeyear construction programme to dramatically improve the heavily congested junction near Hamilton, the new A725 underpass, which runs below the M74 motorway, opened to traffic for the first time in the early hours of last Thursday.
It is the first step in the completion of the works which has caused considerable disruption for drivers travelling f rom Wishaw and the surrounding area into Glasgow.
Keith Brown, the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work, said: “The opening of the new underpass at Raith is a major and significant milestone in this massive transport infrastructure project.
“The Scottish Government are investing almost half a billion pounds to improve Central Scotland’s road network.
This investment will make a tangible difference to road users, alleviating the traffic congestion that has been a historic problem at Raith, and improving journey times through the junction by up to 15 minutes.
“The new underpass, and the strategic road network to which it links, will be a considerable benefit to commuters and businesses right across Scotland.”
Scottish Roads Partnership (SRP) began construction of the £500 million M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements Project on behalf of Transport Scotland in February 2014, upgrading the A8 between Glasgow and Edinburgh to complete the ‘missing link’.
SRP has also constructed three new bridges to carry the motorway and local traffic over the new underpass, separating the traffic on the A725 from that using the M74.
Two new footbridges have been installed to the north and south of the roundabout and once complete will create a safe access route over the busy junction between Bothwell and Strathclyde Country Park. Roadwatch see page 8.