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