West Ferry Interchange

Approaching the interchange from the A8 from Bishopton. The old line of the A8 continues left in the foreground.

The north exit from the interchange, which is just out of shot to the left

The West Ferry Interchange, junction 31 of the M8, opened in the mid 1970's as part of the M8's extension from the Craigton Interchange. As the new terminus of the motorway on the A8, it replaced the former Southbar Interchange that was located on the A8 between the St James Interchange and the Craigton Interchange. It is one of the most scenic junctions with great views of Dumbarton Castle and the ever widening Firth of Clyde. It was originally number junction 12 of the M8 and is now J31 of the motorway. The renumbering took place sometime in the 1980's.

The junction is a fairly standard 4 arm grade separated roundabout interchange, with the mainline passing overhead and changing from the M8 to be the A8 as it does so. There is only one proper road, as opposed to sliproads, that meets the roundabout and that is the A8, dropping down the hill from the south.

To the north, on land reclaimed from the Clyde, the fourth arm is an entrance to a small shore side car park area, with a gated driveway leading off from it to what was West Ferry caravan park and filling station until the A8 was realigned in the late 1970s.

The section of A8 from the roundabout up to the railway bridge, and a similar distance to the west is new build, the old road having turned dog-legged under the bridge and then run parallel to the railway as it continued west.

Routes

Route	To	Notes
M8	Glasgow, Paisley, Erskine Bridge (M898)
A8	Greenock
A8	Bishopston
	West Ferry