New drone footage released showing M8 construction progress

Transport Scotland has released drone footage revealing the advanced stages of a 5km section of the new M8 between Shawhead Junction and Baillieston Interchange.

The aerial video comes after Mr Humza Yousaf, the Minister for Transport and the Islands carried out a site visit on Wednesday.

The footage highlights various construction milestones that have been completed since the project got underway in February 2014, including the new, 2,000 tonne Braehead Rail Bridge, which was moved into position in July last year and now carries the Rutherglen to Whifflet railway line over the new M8.

Once completed, the new section of the M8 motorway will see three lanes of traffic travelling in each direction, in addition to the two lanes in each direction available on the existing A8.

This will result in traffic between Edinburgh and Glasgow on the new M8 Motorway will be separated from local traffic using the A8.

The separation is envisaged to reduce the volume of traffic by up to 25% on the new M8 and see daily commute times between the two cities cut by almost 20 minutes at peak times.

Mr Yousaf said: “This drone footage provides the public with a unique perspective of these major construction works that are currently underway to improve the connection between Glasgow and Edinburgh, but are largely out of sight to road users on the existing A8.

“The significant progress achieved is clear to see, and as we enter the final phase of works along the A8 corridor, I hope the public can be reassured that once complete, the benefits will far outweigh the current disruption. I’d like to thank road users for their patience to date and would ask that they bear with us during this final push to complete the M8 missing link.”

The Construction Manager of the project, Dario Saavedra, outlined the advancement of the new M8. He said: “Now in its final phase of construction, road users can begin to visualise the new Shawhead Junction, with the structures carrying the new North Road and widened A725 in their final alignment.

“The footage also shows how the new M8 will tie into the upgraded Baillieston Interchange, while the existing A8 will connect with the A89 via a newly constructed roundabout at Bargeddie.”

This section of the new M8 is due to be finished by Spring 2017.

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