Charing Cross (Glasgow)

This article is about Charing Cross in Glasgow.
For other junctions named Charing Cross, see Charing Cross.

Charing Cross is junction 17 of the M8. It is also junction 18 heading west.

Charing Cross

Looking north along the M8 from J18

If you have survived the terrors of the Townhead Interchange at J15 on the M8, then you stand a chance of getting through the mass of sliproads around Charing Cross. This junction also owes its insane design to the planners of the Glasgow Inner Ring Road, although this time those offside slips head in opposite directions. The Westbound offslip gives access to the southbound A804, which has shadowed the motorway from Townhead, while the Eastbound onslip brings traffic from the A82. Westbound M8 traffic wishing to proceed to the A82 has to Give way at traffic lights to make a right turn!

Supposedly, this jumble of sliproads is made easier by the presence of two junction numbers - 17 and 18. However, in practice the signage isn't particularly clear and as you head west the traditional nearside slip is 17, and the offside slip 100yds further on is 18. Eastbound there is only one off slip, and that departs in the middle of the tunnel! This provides access to both the A804 and A82.

At one point, there are a total of 17 traffic lanes and 4 hard shoulders running more-or-less parallel. From west to east, there is the S4 A804; HS and splitting M8 offslip; 2 lanes of Northbound onslip; D2M M8; one lane of Southbound onslip and HS (Retaining wall and grass); 2/3 lanes of M8/A82 to A804 slips and finally the S2 Buccleuch Street.

Anderston

You may be forgiven for thinking that that is it, but as we continue westbound (albeit heading south until we cross the Kingston Bridge, we quickly reach J19, Anderston. Again this is a chaotic tangle of sliproads and it is difficult to tell where the Charing Cross Junction stops and Anderston starts.

Routes

Route	To	Notes
M8	Carlisle, Edinburgh
M8	Glasgow Airport, Greenock
A82	Dumbarton
A814	Clydeside Expressway
A814	City Centre
	City Centre

Links

• Roads.org.uk Glasgow Histories page
• Pathetic Motorways - Glasgow Inner Ring Road