M8 Completion Approved

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novaecosse
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Re: M8 Completion Approved

Post by novaecosse »

Glen wrote:
Hugo Nebula wrote: OT, but is the spelling deliberate? If so, is this an indication that an independant Scotland would have its own language? "A language is a dialect with an army".
Scotland already has three official languages, all of which appear on road signs to varying extents.
You could select Scots during the latest Census.
I tend to type generally in English, as there's a fair numer o' wurds eh yaise yooz'll mibbae nae ken. :D
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michael769
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Re: M8 Completion Approved

Post by michael769 »

novaecosse wrote:as there's a fair numer o' wurds eh yaise yooz'll mibbae nae ken. :D
Och man, tha's better! Nane o' yir foreign :censored: frae noo oan eh?
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RS990
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Re: M8 Completion Approved

Post by RS990 »

michael769 wrote:We already do - it's called Scots, and more people up here speak it than you (and indeed they) would think.
I have lived in Scotland all my life and I still have trouble understanding some of my work colleagues. My parents were private school educated, and my mother is Irish, so my accent is not typical of the area.
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Glen
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Re: M8 Completion Approved

Post by Glen »

For your amusement, here is a road sign which includes all three languages of Scotland between both sides.
Rillington
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Re: M8 Completion Approved

Post by Rillington »

Glad to read this is finally being done. I could never understand why this small section wasn't built as a motorway when the rest of the road was built.
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Glen
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Re: M8 Completion Approved

Post by Glen »

Rillington wrote:Glad to read this is finally being done. I could never understand why this small section wasn't built as a motorway when the rest of the road was built.
Basically because it was a higher standard than the rest was pre-motorway, so it got left until last and it has ended up taking this long to get a scheme to the point of definitely being built.
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vlad
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Re: M8 Completion Approved

Post by vlad »

Glen wrote:For your amusement, here is a road sign which includes all three languages of Scotland between both sides.
Where's the Pictish? :)
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Re: M8 Completion Approved

Post by Trebeck »

Be nice to see a full blue line on the map.

However, practically the A8 section seemed adequate, D2 with traffic flowing, in fact I would say that most drivers did not even realise it wasn't motorway. OK some of the sliproads were 90 degrees, but this has some precedent on proper Motorways!
Much less of a bottleneck than the A8000 was.
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Re: M8 Completion Approved

Post by m80 »

Trebeck wrote:
However, practically the A8 section seemed adequate, D2 with traffic flowing, in fact I would say that most drivers did not even realise it wasn't motorway. OK some of the sliproads were 90 degrees, but this has some precedent on proper Motorways!
Much less of a bottleneck than the A8000 was.
It'll deliver quite a big increase in capacity along the A8 corridor, going from 2 lanes to 5/6 lanes (Inc new APR) along most of it's length. Transport Scotland believe it will knock 20 minutes off the journey time during peak periods and create 8000 jobs by 2030. 
m80
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Re: M8 Completion Approved

Post by m80 »

Scot Govt is asking for capital to be brought forward for various schemes, I notice for M8 they need £37.8m for advance utilities works:-

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Release ... dy09032012
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stu20_ml2
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Re: M8 Completion Approved

Post by stu20_ml2 »

m80 wrote:Scot Govt is asking for capital to be brought forward for various schemes, I notice for M8 they need £37.8m for advance utilities works:-

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Release ... dy09032012
Another typical propaganda piece. Most of the projects have been sat on for years. Had they got the finger out the money could have been spent in the good times rather than on rubbish. I laugh how everything these days has become Westminsters fault....the M8 in particular is a project where they have dragged their feet! Its Westminsters fault that they didnt spend the money in 2007 or 2008 when they had millions of underspends?
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Re: M8 Completion Approved

Post by m80 »

Cost = £508 million.

28 March 2012

Transport Scotland is today hosting an industry day to inform contractors and potential providers of the business opportunities the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements project offers their businesses.

This new £415 million construction project combines plans to upgrade the A8 Baillieston to Newhouse, completing the motorway between Glasgow and Edinburgh, as well as work to improve Raith Interchange and the widening of key sections of the M8, M73 and M74.

The project is of a similar scale to the recent M74 Completion which directly supported 900 construction jobs  and is expected to shave up to 18 minutes off the journey time for around 115,000 vehicles for the busiest sections of the M8 per day.

Procurement for the project, the first roads infrastructure project to be procured as part of the £2.5bn Scottish Government’s revenue funded programme of NPD projects, starts on 30 March with the publication of the OJEU notice.

Transport Minister Keith Brown, who addressed delegates at the Industry Day, said:

“Since 2007 this Government has taken forward the largest investment ever in the country’s transport infrastructure with a number of vital projects being completed on or ahead of time and on or under budget.

“This has included the successful delivery of the M80 Stepps to Haggs, the M74 Completion, the Clackmannanshire Bridge, the A96 Fochabers and Mosstodloch Bypass and the Airdrie-Bathgate rail link to name just a few.

“Today we move a step closer to completing the central Scotland motorway network.  On completion the M8/M73/M74 Motorway Improvements Project will boost the nation’s economy by improving connections between the commercial centres of Glasgow and Edinburgh and beyond.

“The Scottish Government’s spending on infrastructure projects is a key driver in boosting the country’s economy.  In these difficult economic times providing hundreds of jobs in the hard-pressed construction industry plays a key part in delivering our vision of a wealthier, fairer and better connected Scotland.

“Completing the M74 directly supported 900 construction jobs and we expect this project to be of a similar scale.

“Completing the central motorway network will deliver direct economic savings to businesses and individuals through improved transport links and reduced journey times, it will also bring significant benefits from improved road safety, the opportunity to improve accessibility and reduce the number of accidents.

“With construction costs of £415 million at today’s prices the successful contractor will be required to deliver on the job training for apprentices and local employment opportunities, further boosting the nation’s economy under a community benefit clause.

“Scotland’s motorways are the beating heart of Scotland’s economy, connecting businesses and communities with each other, getting people to their jobs and goods to the marketplace and this project will deliver real improvements for people across the central belt and beyond.”

The latest stage in the project has been widely welcomed by business and industry groups.

Iain McMillan, CBI Scotland

 “The completion of the M8 between Glasgow and Edinburgh has been a long-standing priority for our members.

 “Improved connectivity is essential for the success of Scotland's economy and the upgrading of this stretch of motorway is crucial to that success.

“The Scottish Government is to be commended for delivering on this long-desired and much needed infrastructure project.”

David Watt, Executive Director, IoD Scotland

 “This is an extremely positive move as it will greatly reduce the travel time between our two largest cities, which in turn will have a positive impact on the Scottish economy.

“It is imperative that we have a world class road link between the two commercial centres to ensure goods and services can be transported quickly and efficiently.

“The long term gain is significant and it will allow Scotland to continue to attract investment and compete on an international stage.”

Chris MacRae, Head of Policy for Scotland, Freight Transport Association

“Upgrading the main motorway connecting Scotland's two most important cities is essential to the efficiency and internal connectivity of Scotland's supply chain.”


Liz Cameron, Chief Executive, Scottish Chambers of Commerce

“Enhancing Scotland’s transport connectivity is essential in order to ensure our economy’s future competitiveness. 

“That is why Scottish Chambers of Commerce welcome the investment being made to upgrade the M8’s missing link – the A8 between Baillieston and Newhouse – alongside other essential improvements to the central Scotland motorway network. 

“This is a well used piece of our road transport network and the flow of traffic here is crucial not just for the west of Scotland but also for connections to the north, east and south”

The project will also provide improved access to facilities and employment areas, maintaining and improving pedestrian and cycling links.  With benefits for drivers and businesses alike, this project is a key enabler in helping to promote sustainable economic growth by improving access to facilities and employment areas and reducing the time to transport goods and services. The project will also maintain and improve pedestrian and cycling links.
The higher standard of motorway being provided will lead to a predicted reduction of more than 100 accidents per year and savings of more than £118 million over the 30 year period.  More freely flowing traffic on this strategic route reduces emissions associated with queuing traffic helping tackle climate change, improving air quality and health improvements.
This is the first roads infrastructure project to be procured as part of the Scottish Government’s revenue funded programme of NPD projects.
The construction cost of the overall project is £415m (excluding VAT and at current prices). The full M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements project cost of £508 million includes utility diversions, design preparation, land purchase costs and inflation since 2007. This is the first cost estimate for this new project and follows a planned review of costs.

New M8 M73 M74 video
A flythrough video showing the section of the A8 between Baillieston and Newhouse to be upgraded to motorway standard as part of the project is available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=8S-O6H6lgfA.

For scheme images visit  http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/roa ... 74/gallery

For scheme info visit http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/roa ... s/m8m73m74


Background

The upgrade of the A8 between Baillieston to Newhouse
 
The upgrade of the existing A8 corridor between Baillieston and Newhouse will provide a dual three-lane motorway standard or equivalent. 

It will also provide a strategic motorway link catering predominantly for east/west through traffic on the M8 motorway with connections via Baillieston Interchange to the M73 Motorway and a new M8 Shawhead Junction providing a link to the A725 Trunk Road. 
 
It will include motorway junctions at Baillieston Interchange, Shawhead Junction (A725), Eurocentral Junction, Chapelhall Junction and Newhouse Junction.

This includes:

2 km (over 1 mile) of online dual three-lane motorway
5 km (over 3 miles) of offline dual three-lane motorway
3 km (nearly 2 miles) of online dual two-lane motorway
10 km (over 6 miles) of dual two-lane all purpose road incorporating nearly 5 km of existing A8
16 km (nearly 10 miles) of pedestrian/cycle path
Three new motorway junctions at Shawhead, Eurocentral and Chapelhall
Two amended motorway junctions at Baillieston and Newhouse
Two railway bridges, including a new Braehead (Cutty Sark) structure
30 road structures, including a major crossing of the North Calder Water
Capacity improvements on M8 Eastbound, Junction 9 to Baillieston Interchange
Significant environmental mitigation and enhancement works.
The improvement works at Raith Interchange include:

Realignment of the A725 over a length of 1.8 km (over 1 mile) 
Provision of an underpass structure for the A725, with one bridge carrying the M74 and two bridges carrying the Raith roundabout
Realignment of the Raith roundabout on the south of the M74
Provision of a new link road between the B7071 and Raith roundabout with a signalised junction at the A725 eastbound off slip
Modifications to the M74 slip roads
Provision of new pedestrian/cyclist links including bridges over the Raith roundabout to the north and south of the M74, a new link to the proposed National Cycle Network 74.  and signalised crossing points
Provision of an additional lane on the southbound M74 between Bothwell Services and the Raith Junction
Demolition of the existing Bothwell Park Road access bridge over the M74, to the north of Raith junction, and construction of a new realigned bridge at this location
New private access road through Strathclyde Country Park
Provision of a sustainable urban drainage system and flood water storage areas
Environmental mitigation and enhancement works.
Network upgrades

The works principally consist of widening the existing carriageway by an additional lane at the following locations:

Eastbound carriageway of the M8 from Junction 10, Easterhouse to Junction 8, Baillieston Interchange.

Northbound and southbound carriageways of the M73 between Baillieston Interchange and Maryville Interchange.

Northbound and southbound carriageways of the M74 from Junction 3, Daldowie to Junction 5, Raith.

Southbound carriageway of the M74 between Junction 5, Raith and Junction 6, Hamilton.
 
The works will maintain the existing slip road arrangements through the Baillieston Interchange.

The improvement works also include the following:

A new slip road from the M74 Junction 3, Daldowie to the northbound M73
Modification of the two existing roundabouts at the M74 Junction 3, Daldowie to signalised junction
Widening of four underbridges on the M74
Demolition of the existing access bridge over the M73 to the south of Baillieston Interchange and provision of a new realigned access bridge
Replacement of existing road drainage, including introducing a new Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS) where practicable, over the extent of the project.
The total length of the motorway carriageway improved by the works is approximately 18 km (over 11 miles).
http://mobile.transportscotland.gov.uk/ ... dustry-day
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Re: M8 Completion Approved

Post by HandShandy »

What a fantastic project this is. I really hope they get started on these upgrades next year as they said on the news this evening.

Couple of questions though, because the second virtual fly-through video doesn't exactly make this clear.

1. Is there a small section of D4M between the Shawhead and Eurocentral junctions?

2. What kind of junction will the Shawhead interchange be? From the video it looks like a kind of trumpet with the A725 going through. Shame as I was hoping for at least a cloverstack or a kind of turbine interchange.
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Re: M8 Completion Approved

Post by wrinkly »

HandShandy wrote:1. Is there a small section of D4M between the Shawhead and Eurocentral junctions?
Yes.
2. What kind of junction will the Shawhead interchange be? From the video it looks like a kind of trumpet with the A725 going through. Shame as I was hoping for at least a cloverstack or a kind of turbine interchange.
I'd describe it as a quarter-cloverleaf with an additional road wandering through it, adjacent to the existing Shawhead half-cloverleaf, which will survive except for its additional slip road. You can see it in this plan of the western half of the M8 scheme.

Incidentally, a bridge which once carried the then single carriageway A725 over a railway, and today survives to carry the B7070 over the southbound A725, will survive again to find a third use.

You may also be interested in this plan of the eastern half of the scheme.
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Re: M8 Completion Approved

Post by HandShandy »

Wrinkly, your awesome! Thanks for that, I feel a bit stupid for not seeing these plans already - then again I'm not the most observant person on here.

Good to see the old A8 is being retained and in some sections keeping it's D2 configuration. Acting as a local distributor road combined with the new M8, this should completely eliminate congestion.

I do wonder how they are going to number these junctions though? There is also a possibility of a new junction further east at Harthill and one at Bishopton in the near future so it could be speculated that they will renumber all junctions on the M8. Just a thought.
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Re: M8 Completion Approved

Post by wrinkly »

It wouldn't do to have a new length of motorway in Scotland that didn't require some numbering of existing junctions.
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Re: M8 Completion Approved

Post by A8000Bob »

Surely the new junctions will be 6a, 7 and 7a? Or maybe 6a, 6b and 7 if they want to make Shawhead look more important than the other two.
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Re: M8 Completion Approved

Post by Gav »

This is excellent news indeed - looking forward to seeing it completed.

The A8 / M8 set up with the four carriageways - its a pity they didnt take the carriageways through the bridges around the euro central set up - this would have simplified it somewhat, although they would have needed some braiding slips to merge / diverge the road at the western side while allowing access to the junction.

attached are the M73 and A725 junctions
Attachments
M8 M73.jpg
M8 A725.jpg
m80
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Re: M8 Completion Approved

Post by m80 »

Contract notice has been published today: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov. ... =MAR112243
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BBC: Four consortia picked for Scottish motorways tender

Post by J--M--B »

On BBC News
22 June 2012 Last updated at 10:55

Four consortia picked for Scottish motorways tender

Four consortia have been invited to tender for a £415m construction project which will complete central Scotland's motorway network.

..........
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