The major route – Scotland’s busiest road – will see works begin on Monday and last through till next spring.
The M8 is Scotland’s busiest road(Image: DAILY RECORD)
Glasgow’s M8 is set for nine months of disruption as roadworks are set to place.
The major route – Scotland’s busiest road – will see works begin on Monday and last through till next spring.
The £10m programme will see works carried out at Junction 26 on the M8 at Hillington. The works will span both the eastbound and westbound carriageways.
It will see disruption on the road used by 150,000 people a day is set to run until May 10, 2026. There will be brief break throughout the festive period before work restarts again in January.
The work will focus on four bridges that run across the interchange. The bridges built in 1968 have suffered wear and tear with potholes becoming a major issue.
A full resurfacing will take place, with repairs to the bridges also being carried out.
The work will be carried out over five phases which will see multiple closures, contraflow systems in place a reduced speed limit with average speed cameras, the BBC reports.
Phase 1 will until October 1, and will see Lanes Two and Three of the eastbound carriageway and narrow running lanes shut down.
A total closure of the eastbound on-slip road will be implemented as well, and traffic will be diverted.
Average speed cameras will be in place throughout the works(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Phase 2 will run from October 2 until December 14. It will result in lanes One and Two being closed going eastbound, along with the eastbound on-slip road remaining closed.
The third phase then begins December 15, and will see barrier upgrades being implemented.
Works will stop over Christmas between December 18 and January 5.
Phase 4 will then kick off between February 9 and March 2, with Lanes Two and Three closed going westbound, with the westbound slip off facing overnight closures for a single weekend.
Road maintenance company Amey notes that “significant delays” are anticipated at this time.
The fifth and final phase will be from March 3 next year until May 10.
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The Junction 26 westbound slip-off will remain closed at night, with contraflow in westbound lanes 1 and 2.
Drivers will face 40mph speed restrictions with speed cameras also in place.
The first phase of work – starting on Monday will initially see temporary average speed cameras installed.
The works then progresses over the following months to bridge waterproofing, concrete repairs, resurfacing, expansion joint replacements, edge beam strengthening, and barrier upgrades.
Delays are expected, but Amey appears to be optimistic for the first phase of work.
Using traffic modelling – where traffic patterns are simulated – the maximum delays westbound and eastbound are expected to be up to six minutes off-peak and up to 15 minutes during peak times.
However, phases 4 and 5, where the majority of work will be on the westbound lanes, are expected to bring significant delays.
Amey says the work is essential to ensure the motorway remains safe and reliable.
A spokesman said: “Proactive maintenance now helps us avoid the risk of deterioration that could lead to more disruptive closures in future.
“By carrying out these works now, we are protecting a vital part of Scotland’s trunk road network.
“The investment will reduce the risk of unplanned closures and ensure that the M8 can continue to support communities, road users and businesses across the region.”