M80 Stepps to Haggs

The new 18 kilometres of motorway, completed in August 2011, ties in with the existing M80 at Junction 2 (Robroyston) and north of Haggs. 

The Scheme includes the new Moodiesburn Bypass, bypassing the communities of Muirhead, Chryston and Moodiesburn, and links with the previously upgraded Auchenkilns Junction.

This project is a further example of the massive infrastructure investment made in Scotland's transport network, which also includes the Forth Replacement Crossing, the M74 Completion project (opened to traffic in June 2011), the new rail link between Airdrie and Bathgate (opened in December 2010), the major improvements to the railway between Edinburgh and Glasgow and further improvements to the central Scotland motorway network.

The M80 Stepps to Haggs project is providing many benefits and aligns with the Scottish Government's five strategic objectives.

Welcoming the completion of the new road, Transport Minister Keith Brown said:

“Completing the motorway network between Glasgow and Stirling is bringing real benefits to the communities and businesses across the central belt and to the rest of Scotland with its links to the M74 and the wider road network.

“The new road is also reducing congestion, improving reliability and providing a healthier environment by reducing vehicle emissions.

“Drivers are already benefitting from the opening of the M74 Completion. The completion of this important trunk road in central Scotland on time and on budget once again provides evidence of the Scottish Government’s commitment to deliver major infrastructure projects and to work with contractors to ensure best value for the public purse.”

Benefits

The M80 Stepps to Haggs project is delivering significant economic, environmental and safety benefits, by improving road safety and access to the north and south of the country.

Reflecting the Government’s strategic objectives of wealthier and fairer, safer and stronger and greener, the M80 Stepps to Haggs upgrade has produced the following benefits:

Economy

  • Improved journey times and reliability, with a 30-40% reduction in journey times during peak travel, equating to a reduction of approximately 15 minutes for people using the route
  • More efficient use of the network, reducing delay and thereby improving journey time reliability
  • Improving access to facilities, in particular to jobs, and providing accessibility for freight deliveries, consistent with the strategic role of the scheme corridor (linking the North of Scotland with the M74 south, the main route to the European markets)
  • Completing the Central Scotland motorway network by improving the road corridor in line with Transport Scotland's integrated transport policy and the Scottish Ministers' response to the Central Scotland Transport Corridor Study (CSTCS)

Safety

  • Reducing motorway congestion and lessening driver frustration
  • Improving safety in this trunk road corridor and reducing the risk of accidents, between vehicles and between vehicles and other road users
  • Improving safety for vehicles entering and exiting the M80 and other road users by bypassing the most urban section of the previous A80 route
  • Improved access to and from the strategic road network for the local area, particularly to Cumbernauld

Environment

  • Contributing to the Government’s objective of striving to stabilise traffic volumes by the year 2021
  • Reducing traffic noise
  • The improved design and more effective management of the network is reducing the adverse impacts of the current traffic on the local community and lessening the impact on the built and natural
  • Reducing vehicle emissions and promoting a healthier environment
  • Adopting the use of  materials and construction methods to minimise the impact on the environment and local communities, and continuing to encourage this approach in operation and maintenance of the road network