Erskine

Whilst Erskine was never officially designated as a new town, it didn't exist in 1960, and has been built since using many of the New Town principles in planning and layout. This means that there are a series of spine roads, with blocks of housing separated by green spaces, forming 'communities'. Shops, Schools and churches are dotted around, and there is also a central shopping centre with supermarkets and other facilities. In the older parts of the town road access is restricted to the rear of properties, even for the shops, so the shoppers car park is next to the delivery yard and the store entrance from the lawned 'street' at the front.

The main road through Erskine is the A726. This was originally built 'future proofed' to allow for dualling in the future, and there is still a lot of evidence for this, even if the plans were never carried through. The reasons behind the road never being widened seem to be the construction of the motorways and Erskine Bridge, taking long distance traffic off the A726 and also better distributing traffic from Erskine itself. However, the Centreholm Roundabout, Barholm Roundabout and to a lesser extent Southholm Roundabout are all firm evidence of this earlier plan.

To the south, and passing through Inchinnan and Bishopton, both of which grew with Erskine, is the A8, the old main route west from Glasgow to Greenock. Indeed, the Old Greenock Road (replaced in the 1800s) runs through the southern edge of Erskine itself. The M8 has replaced the A8 as the main route west, crossing the A8 to the south of Erskine, and so forming a break between Erskine and Bishopton. Within this break, the M898 spurs off the M8 for the Erskine Bridge, which replaced the ancient Erskine Ferry. The bridge is crossed by the A898, a continuation of the spur, with the change made at the junction where the A726 meets them. This is actually a junction of 4 terminii, with the B815 taking over from the A726 as it heads west to Bishopton and the A8.

Routes

Route	To	Notes
M8	Greenock	E05
M8	Glasgow	E05
M898	Erskine Bridge	Spur from M8
A898	Erskine Bridge, Dumbarton (A82)
A8	Inchinnan, Renfrew
A8	Bishopton, Greenock
A726	Glasgow, Airport, Paisley	was A740
B815	Bishopton