M74 missing link will complete ahead of schedule

13 Sep 2010

The “missing link” M74 motorway extension in Glasgow will be finished two months earlier than planned. The completion date for the important link in Scotland's roads infrastructure has been brought forward to June 2011.

Better-than-expected progress over the summer has enabled contractors to bring forward the opening of the five-mile motorway from August to June 2011 -nine months ahead of the contractual deadline of February 2012.

The three-lane stretch of motorway will link the M8 south of Kingston Bridge near the city centre to the Fullarton junction of the M74 near Carmyle in the east end, saving motorists approximately 10 minutes on their journey when travelling across the city.

It has been built by Interlink M74 Joint Venture and overseen by a partnership of Glasgow, South Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire councils together with government agency Transport Scotland, its main funder. Mr Swinney said the accelerated completion date was testament to "excellent stewardship" of the project. "The M74 Completion is the biggest infrastructure project on the ground in Scotland and is providing vital jobs and investment for the hard-pressed construction industry now," he said. "The fact that this route, which will be vital to the future growth of Scotland's economy, will open so many months ahead of schedule will be welcomed by all who will benefit from using it."

Source: The Herald: Missing link completes early

Project details
  • M74 - M8 interchange