M8/M73/M74 Motorway Improvements Project - Preferred Bidder Announced

The project will complete the motorway network between Glasgow and Edinburgh by upgrading the A8 Baillieston to Newhouse. It also includes work to improve the Raith Interchange and widening key sections of the M8, M73 and M74.

When completed the new section of road will shave up to 18 minutes off journeys at peak times for vehicles using this busy sections of the M8 each day. It is also expected to directly support hundreds of jobs, as well as many more in the supply chain.

Transport Minister, Keith Brown said:

“The Scottish Government is continuing to invest in our transport infrastructure and the improvements made by this project will have long-lasting benefits for people across the central belt and beyond.

“This project will boost the nation’s economy by improving connections for business across Scotland and will directly support the hard-pressed construction industry. The M74 Completion generated 900 construction jobs and we expect this project to be on a similar scale. There will also be opportunities for on the job training for apprentices and local employment.

“These improvements will also greatly improve road safety and accessibility by playing an essential role in reducing frustration and accidents and providing easier access to and from a number of communities and locations, such as Strathclyde Park.”

SRP already has a strong presence in Scotland, with Amey employing over 1500 people in numerous locations across Scotland, including a major office base at Eurocentral.

This is the first roads infrastructure scheme to be procured as part of the £2.5bn Scottish Government’s Non-Profit Distributing Model (NPD), which helps to deliver economies of scale and efficiencies for the public purse.

Work on the site is expected to begin late this year and the project is currently on track to be completed by Spring 2017.

As this scheme progresses, Transport Scotland is committed to keeping local communities and road users informed and a series of public exhibitions are being planned for later this year.

Earlier this year, Transport Scotland awarded a £3.1m groundworks contract to Forkers Ltd. This was the first of a series of advance works planned for the scheme which is now complete, allowing advance utility diversions to be undertaken ahead of the main construction works. For more information on the M8 M73 M74 Improvements, visit the Transport Scotland website.