Motorists to be prepared for M74 completion

Jun 9 2011 by Shirley Bartynek, Hamilton Advertiser

LANARKSHIRE motorists are being encouraged to prepare themselves for the opening of the M74 completion route later this month.

The road will open on Tuesday, June 28, and Scottish infrastructure secretary Alex Neil wants drivers to be ready.

A new M74 Opening web page www.m74completion.com, will provide important traffic information for drivers using the new road.

It features maps and information for drivers joining and leaving the new section of motorway.

This information will also be available from a number of other websites including Traffic Scotland, Glasgow City Council, South Lanarkshire Council, Strathclyde Police and Glasgow airport.

In the run up to the opening, from next week, overhead signs on the trunk road network across Scotland will advise motorists of the opening and on the week before the opening, radio ads will remind drivers of the opening of this important strategic route in the central Scotland motorway network.

Mr Neil said: “When the M74 Completion scheme opens to traffic in three weeks time, eight months ahead of schedule, it will bring real improvements for drivers including 5-10 minute savings in peak hour journeys across Glasgow and a reduction in traffic on the busy M8 and from local roads in Glasgow and South Lanarkshire.

“As with the opening of any new road, it is important that drivers are informed of any changes the new motorway could make to their journeys.

“Drivers should pay attention to the radio ads, visit the website www.m74completion.com to familiarise themselves with the new traffic arrangements, drive with care and pay close attention to road signs in the run up to the opening and once the new road opens.”

The project has a fixed construction cost of £445 million plus an allowance of £12 million for treatment of mine workings along the route.