Motorway drivers face long delays

Three months of mayhem

Motorists in Rutherglen and Cambuslang are being warned to expect “significant” delays on the M74 for the next three months.

Transport Scotland will begin work on installing new gantries as part of the £ 500million M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements Project on Monday, August 8.

The work will take place on both the northbound and southbound carriages between junction 2a Fullerton, just across the river from Cambuslang, and junction 6, Hamilton.

Major traffic management is required along the network to ensure these works are carried out safely. This includes reducing the carriageway to two lanes in each direction and, at times, will result in the closure of various slip roads.

The work on the M74 is expected to last three months.

There will also be disruption on the M73, between junction 1 Maryville to junction 2, Baillieston, from mid –September for approximately six weeks, and on the M8 from junction 10, Easterhouse to junction 8, Baillieston, from mid- August for approximately four months.

Graeme Reid, project manager for the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements Project, said: “Transport Scotland is working with the contractor to ensure these works are completed as quickly as possible.

“Whilst we’re doing everything we can to minimise the disruption, delays will be inevitable, so we’re asking motorists to check the Transport Scotland and Traffic Scotland websites for updates on these key routes, to plan their journeys in advance and to look at taking an alternative route if possible.”

According to Transport Scotland the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements Project will significantly reduce congestion across the central Scotland motorway network, shaving approximately 20 minutes off the daily commute from Glasgow to Edinburgh.

Traffic management layouts change regularly; therefore road users are advised to routinely check the Transport Scotland website and the Traffic Scotland website for live updates; www.transportscotland.gov.uk and www.trafficscotland.org.

Plan journeys in advance or take alternative route