Cowcaddens

Refurbishment works on the M8 viaduct above the junction

The large roundabout type junction under the M8 at Cowcaddens is where the A81 crosses the A804 on its way north from the city centre. For a time it appears to have been the start point of the A81, but this has now been extended very slightly south again to meet the A82 at Cowcaddens Cross. Even though the junction is located directly underneath the elevated section of the motorway, there is no direct access to it, and the unbuilt Port Dundas junction was due to be located a short distance to the east - the stubs of the sliproads on the M8 can be seen overhead. The A804 runs parallel to the motorway, and so connects to neighbouring junctions, indeed to the immediate west of this junction it runs between the legs of the elevated motorway for a time. The junction was built with the construction of the M8 overhead in what was a dense urban area that was substantially cleared, occupying the area around Burnside Street, Grove Street, Dobbie Loan and Ann Street. The A81, Garscube Road uses an existing alignment, but the M8 and A804 are on wholly new alignments.

Although laid out with a roundabout shape, and only connecting the two A roads, the junction does not feel like a roundabout to navigate. There are a number of factors behind this, not least the offset nature of the approaches, and the use of signals at each of the 'corners' which generally give the impression of giving priority to the A81 trafffic rather than circulating traffic. The number of circulating lanes around the central island varies between two and four, although the junction is fully lined and marked to control traffic, and at one point only one lane is provided for circulating traffic. Three of the four arms have two approach and departure lanes, while the northern arm of the A81 has one exit lane and three approach lanes.

Routes

Route	To	Notes
A81	Aberfoyle, Milngavie, Maryhill
A81	City Centre, Cowcaddens, Garnethill
A804	Charing Cross, St Georges Cross, Glasgow Airport, Kilmarnock (M8,M77)
A804	(M8 East, M80), Port Dundas (A879)