The Government of Scotland is to fully open the M8, M73 and M74 following £500m of motorway improvement works.

Transport Scotland will gradually remove all daytime lane restrictions on the M8, M73 and M74 over the next few days in order to free-up capacity on the key part of central Scotland’s motorway network.

A wide range of works have been undertaken under the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements Project over the last three years. The works included construction of a new M8 motorway, upgrading the Raith and Shawhead junctions, widening of the M8, M73 and M74, and construction of new lanes to increase road capacity.

Scotland Cabinet Secretary for Economy Jobs and Fair Keith Brown said: “We are just a few days away from seeing the last of the lane restrictions being removed from the motorway network as originally planned. 

“When this happens, Scotland’s economy will start to see the economic benefit of this half billion pound investment in the nation’s infrastructure. 

“These huge improvements to the central Scotland motorway network, which had been operating significantly beyond capacity, will improve connections for business and road users alike. 

“This will unleash the economic benefits, which lie at the heart of this project and help our economy grow in a sustainable manner. This will result in better journey times during peak periods, better connectivity, journey time reliability, and road safety, improving access to facilities and employment areas.” 

"Scotland’s economy will start to see the economic benefit of this half billion pound investment in the nation’s infrastructure."

The transport agency stated that the final configuration of the A8 will open in the next few days, with the new A8 overbridge from the Eurocentral west towards Shawhead.

For executing vital infrastructure projects to connect key arterial routes in Central Scotland, the government is working with Scottish Roads Partnership (SRP), with funding from European Investment Bank and Allianz Global Investors.

SRP is a consortium formed by Cintra, Amey, Meridiam and Aberdeen Asset Management.

SRP general manager Gabriel Valtueña-Ramos said: “We are proud to have delivered this major strategic infrastructure scheme for Scotland, which will bring huge benefits to the economy, as well as improved safety and reliability to road users.

"We will now focus on necessary finishing and snagging works, and local road improvements, which follow on from the lifting of motorway restrictions. These will have little impact on the travelling public with the vast majority of these restrictions happening outwith peak hours."

SRP’s main contractors Ferrovial Agroman UK and Lagan Construction Group Joint Venture have worked on these new works. Amey will operate and maintain the network over the next three decades.