A8
From Roader's Digest: The SABRE Wiki
| A8 | |||||||||||||||||||
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| From: | Edinburgh (NT258740) | ||||||||||||||||||
| To: | Greenock (NS280763) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Via: | Glasgow | ||||||||||||||||||
| Length: | 68.8 miles (110.7 km) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Meets: | A1, A7, A720, M9, M8, A725, M73, A77, A739 | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Edinburgh • Glasgow • Greenock • | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Traditional Counties | |||||||||||||||||||
| Route outline (key) | |||||||||||||||||||
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Contents |
Route
In the beginning, the A8 connected the two principal cities of Scotland, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Its motorway replacement has emerged piecemeal since the 1970s, but hasn’t yet completed the job so the A-road still forms a crucial six mile section of the intercity route. Furthermore, it’s still one of the main roads in and out of the centres of each of those two historic cities, not withstanding the westward connection to Greenock. It’s a misnomer to consider the A8 as a through route in its own right anymore, consisting as it does of two separate major urban through routes and two (formerly three) separate trunk roads with a thirty mile gap in the middle that has been downgraded in a number of guises.
History
The A8 is the main road of Scotland's Central Belt until the M8 was built. Most of the Eastern section was taken over by the M8 while much of the Port Glasgow-Greenock section has been upgraded. The section to Gournock is now numbered A770.
Notable locations and improvements
Newbridge Roundabout
The Newbridge Roundabout is where the A8 meets the M9 motorway. This marks the end of the A8 in Edinburgh as the A89 takes over much of its route. It was originally an at-grade roundabout with the M8 ending there too. It is now Junction 1 of the M9.
Baillieston Interchange
The Baillieston Interchange is the major junction in Scotland. First built in the 1970's for the M73. Later the M8 opened and the A8 lost the mainline to the west. Today it is where the A8 loses it trunk status.
Victoria Bridge
Victoria Bridge is one of the Bridges the A8 crosses in Glasgow. The other is called the Albert Bridge. Together they allow the A8 to cross the River Clyde.
Opening Dates
| Month | Year | Section | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Newhouse Junction to Baillieston Interchange | Pre-motorway upgrade. | |
| 1985 | Shorting | A8 shorten in Greenock. | |
| 1972 | Baillieston Interchange | New Interchange with M73. | |
| 1965 | Newhouse Junction | Upgrade to Motorway. | |
| 1854 | Victoria Bridge | Bridge to Cross River Clyde. |
Links
CBRD
roadsUK
