Cardonald Interchange

Heading east on the M8

Cardonald Interchange is junction 25 of the M8. Its layout could be described as half dumbbell / half diamond or a modified trumpet, but despite this it is missing two movements. The primary purpose, however, is to connect the Clyde Tunnel on the A739 to the M8, and it does accomplish this task. The slips for Westbound traffic on the M8 meet the dualled A739 at a roundabout on the south side of the motorway, which provides full access north or south on the A739. The offslip is a lengthy one, which passes under the A739 and then runs between it and the railway to reach the roundabout, while the onslip actually forks off the A739 just after the roundabout and then curves through 180 degrees to pass under the A739 as it joins the motorway. Eastbound traffic is not so lucky, and only offered north facing slips to connect to the tunnel. A lengthy detour around the city streets does permit traffic to reach the southbound A739, but it is perhaps easier to use one of the neighbouring junctions.

Both of the eastbound slips could have been modified, without too much difficulty, to connect to the A739 spur which stretches across the motorway to meet the A8, Shieldhall Road at a roundabout underneath the mainline of the A739. This would have provided the missing movements in a slightly less convoluted way, and also provided a connection between the M8 and parallel A8 at this location. At present, the A8 does fully connect to the A739, but only via the spur to the south and lengthy sliproads to the north. However, the close proximity of junctions on this section of the M8 means that the lack of a direct connection to the A8 at Cardonald is not a big problem.

Routes

Route	To	Notes
M8	Glasgow Airport, Greenock
M8	City Centre, Edinburgh
A739	Govan, Clyde Tunnel, Southern General Hospital
A739	Cardonald, Irvine (A736)
	Govan, (M8 East)	Marcus Road
	Cardonald Park	Fifty Pitches Road
M83		South Link Motorway