M8

The first and last east-west motorway north of the M62, the M8 links up Edinburgh and Glasgow in style. It starts at the A720 Edinburgh City Bypass, powers across Scotland's central belt almost in a straight line, and dives right into the absolute centre of Glasgow. The most audacious urban motorway in the UK then blasts a path through the city and out the other side, connecting with the Erskine Bridge before returning traffic to the A8 towards Greenock.

Otherwise completed in 1995 with the construction of the section from the M9 to its terminus at the A720, the M8 remained unfinished thanks to a glaring six-mile gap between Newhouse and Baillieston, and for decades Scotland's most important motorway was interrupted between junctions 6 and 8 by a section of old A8 dual carriageway that struggled to cope with its traffic load. This put it in the same club as the M74 and M80 as a Scottish motorway with a permanently missing section - but by 2011 those roads had been completed. The long-delayed M8 completion project has now delivered the goods, with the final section of this motorway opened in April 2017.

A string of public artworks were placed along the side of the M8 between Edinburgh and Glasgow during the 1990s, partly to add some interest to the journey, thanks to something called the M8 Art Project. At various points motorists catch sight of the Sawtooth Ramps, a row of four square grassy pyramids; the Heavy Horse, a wire mesh horse sculpture by the artist who went on to design the Kelpies; Big Heids, a row of three enormous red busts modelled on random people from the streets of Motherwell; and the strangest of all, The Horn, a tall curved horn mounted beside the motorway that can be heard playing music, poetry and quotations to passing traffic.

The section through central Glasgow is notorious and thrilling. It's manically busy, forming two sides of a never-finished inner ring road, and the mix of local, long-distance and commuter traffic can be a recipe for chronic congestion. It is five lanes wide in places, but at crucial points in the centre narrows down to two. The knotted tangle of junctions includes Britain's closest exits and more than one unusual right-hand sliproad. It was designed and built following the design guidance for American urban freeways, and it shows: the urban M8 is nothing like other UK motorways and instead is clearly and visibly straight out of Los Angeles. Glasgow is unique among the UK's major cities in having no ring road of any significance and instead carrying through traffic right through its heart.

Relief for the city centre section arrived not in the form of a ring road or bypass for Glasgow but instead with more urban motorway building - something unthinkable elsewhere in the UK but which happened here as recently as 2011. The new M74 extension was built to calm the M8's troubles, bypassing the central Glasgow section completely and allowing traffic travelling from one side of the city to the other to avoid the city centre for the very first time. It's mostly elevated, pushing its way through the industrial areas south of the Clyde.

Start

Edinburgh

End

Greenock

Passes

Glasgow, Paisley

Connects to
Length

61 miles

Click a section name to see its full details, or click a map symbol on the right to see all motorways opened in that year.

Completed Name Start End
Harthill Bypass Whitburn Shotts Chronology map for 1964
Harthill Bypass Extension Shotts J5 Shotts Interchange Chronology map for 1965
Shotts - Newhouse J5 Shotts J6 Newhouse Chronology map for 1967
Renfrew Bypass J26 Hillington J29A Southbar Chronology map for 1968
Glasgow Inner Ring Road: Townhead and Woodside 1 J15 Townhead J16 Dobbie’s Loan Chronology map for 1968
Dechmont - Whitburn J3 Dechmont Whitburn Chronology map for 1969
Glasgow Inner Ring Road: Kingston Bridge and Approaches J19 Anderston J20 West Street Chronology map for 1970
Newbridge - Dechmont J2 Claylands J3 Dechmont Chronology map for 1970
Bishopton Bypass Stage 1 J29A Southbar J30 Craigton Chronology map for 1970
Glasgow Inner Ring Road: Woodside 2 J16 Dobbie’s Loan J17 St George’s Cross Chronology map for 1971
Glasgow Inner Ring Road: Charing Cross Section J17 St George’s Cross J19 Anderston Chronology map for 1972
Monkland Motorway Stage 1 J12 Cumbernauld Road J15 Townhead Chronology map for 1975
Bishopton Bypass Stage 2 J30 Craigton J31 West Ferry Chronology map for 1975
Renfrew Motorway J20 West Street J26 Hillington Chronology map for 1976
Monkland Motorway Stage 2A J11 Stepps Road J12 Cumbernauld Road Chronology map for 1979
Glasgow City Boundary to Baillieston J8 Baillieston J9 Easterhouse Chronology map for 1980
Monkland Motorway Stage 2B J9 Easterhouse J11 Stepps Road Chronology map for 1980
Edinburgh City Bypass - Newbridge J1 Hermiston Gait J2 Claylands Chronology map for 1995
Newhouse - Baillieston J6 Newhouse J8 Baillieston Chronology map for 2017

Exit list

Symbols and conventions are explained in the key to exit lists. You can click any junction to see its full details.

At some points in central Glasgow junction numbering is independent for each carriageway.

Junction   Eastbound               Westbound  
1 City Bypass (N)
A720 Link
City Bypass (S)
A720 Link
City Centre
(A71)


A720
EAST



A71


A720


A71
N/A
LanesLanesLanesLanes Signs LanesLanesLanesLanes Signs
4 miles, 2 lanes 4 miles, 2 lanes
2 Forth Road Bridge
Stirling
M9 Link (A90)
M9
(A90)
Forth Road Bridge
Stirling
M9 Link (A90)
LanesLanesLanesLanes LanesLanesLanesLanes
5 miles, 2 lanes 5 miles, 2 lanes
3 Livingston
A899
A899 A899 Livingston
A899
LanesLanesLanesLanes LanesLanesLanesLanes
3 miles, 2 lanes 3 miles, 2 lanes
3A Bathgate
Broxburn (A89)
Livingston (W)
(A779)
A89

A89
A7066
A779 Bathgate
Livingston (W)
A779 (A89)
LanesLanesLanesLanes LanesLanesLanesLanes
3 miles, 2 lanes 3 miles, 2 lanes
4 Bathgate
Whitburn
Falkirk
A801
A801 A801 Bathgate
Whitburn
Falkirk
A801
LanesLanesLanesLanes LanesLanesLanesLanes
2 miles, 2 lanes 2 miles, 2 lanes
4A Heartlands
Whitburn
Heartlands
Whitburn
LanesLanesLanesLanes LanesLanesLanesLanes
2 miles, 2 lanes 2 miles, 2 lanes
Services Harthill Services Harthill
LanesLanesLanesLanes LanesLanesLanesLanes
2 miles, 2 lanes 2 miles, 2 lanes
5 Shotts
B7075
Harthill
(B7066)
(B7075)
(B7066)
Shotts
B7075
Harthill
(B7066)
LanesLanesLanesLanes LanesLanesLanesLanes
6 miles, 2 lanes 5 miles, 2 lanes
6

A73


A73
Airdrie
Lanark
A73
Motherwell
Wishaw (A723)
Eurocentral
LanesLanesLanesLanes
  1 mile, 2 lanes
6 Chapelhall
Holytown B799
Airdrie
Lanark (A73)
B799
B802

B799
(A723)

LanesLanesLanesLanesLanes LanesLanesLanesLanesLanes
1 mile, 3 lanes  
7 Eurocentral


A8
LanesLanesLanesLanesLanes
3 miles, 3 lanes 2 miles, 3 lanes
7A A725 A725
(M74)
Belshill
East Kilbride
A725
Carlisle (M74 Link)
LanesLanesLanesLanesLanes
  2 miles, 3 lanes
8 Carlisle
M73 Link (M74 Link)
Coatbridge
A8
M73
(M80)



A8

M73
(M74)

A8(M)

A8

Glasgow (E)
A8(M) Link
Carlisle
Glasgow (SE)
Glasgow Airport
M73 Link (M74 Link)
Stirling
Kincardine Bridge
M73 Link (M80 Link)
LanesLanesLanesLanesLanes LanesLanesLanesLanesLanes
1 mile, 3 lanes  
9 Springhill
Baillieston
LanesLanesLanesLanesLanes
1 mile, 3 lanes 2 miles, 3 lanes
10 Easterhouse
Barlanark
Easterhouse
Springhill
LanesLanesLanesLanesLanes Signs LanesLanesLanesLanesLanes Signs
1 mile, 3 lanes 1 mile, 3 lanes
11 Garthamlock
Queenslie
B765
B765 B765 Stepps
Queenslie
B765
LanesLanesLanesLanesLanes LanesLanesLanesLanesLanes
1 mile, 3 lanes 1 mile, 3 lanes
12 Riddrie
Stepps
A80
B765
A80

A80 Riddrie
Stepps
A80
LanesLanesLanesLanesLanes LanesLanesLanesLanesLanes
1 mile, 3 lanes 1 mile, 3 lanes
13 Stirling
Kincardine Bridge
M80 Link
M80 Blochairn
Parkhead
LanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanes Signs LanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanes Signs
1 mile, 5 lanes  
14 Blochairn
Dennistoun
B763
B763
LanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanes
1 mile, 5 lanes 2 miles, 5 lanes
15 Cathedral
Glasgow Cross
Kirkintilloch
Springburn
A803
(A804)


A803
A8

A8



Cathedral
Glasgow Cross
A803
Kirkintilloch
(A803)
LanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanes LanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanes
1 mile, 4 lanes 0.5 miles, 5 lanes
16
A879

A804
Aberfoyle (A81)
George Square
LanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanes
  0.5 miles, 4 lanes
17 A81 A81 Dumbarton
A82
LanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanes
  0.1 miles, 3 lanes
18
4.0 km
A82 Charing Cross
Kelvingrove
LanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanes LanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanes
0.2 miles, 2 lanes  
17 Dumbarton
A82
Aberfoyle
(A81)
LanesLanesLanesLanesLanes
0.4 miles, 3 lanes 0.5 miles, 3 lanes
18 Anderston
Charing Cross
City Centre
LanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanes LanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanes
0.1 miles, 1+3 lanes 0.1 miles, 3+2 lanes
19 Clydebank
SECC
A814
A814


A814


(A814)
Clydebank
SECC
A814
LanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanes LanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanes
0.5 miles, 2+3 lanes  
River or canal River Clyde River or canal River Clyde
  0.5 miles, 5 lanes
20 (A730)



East Kilbride
(A730)
City Centre (S)
LanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanes LanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanes
0.2 miles, 3 lanes 0.2 miles, 3 lanes
M74 J1 East Kilbride
Carlisle
M74 Link
East Kilbride
(A730)
Tradeston
A8


(A8)
(A8)
(A8)




M74
LanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanes LanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanes
0.4 miles, 3+3 lanes  
21 Kinning Park
Kilmarnock (M77 Link)
Greenock (M8)
LanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanes
0.6 miles, 3+3 lanes 1 mile, 3+3 lanes
22 East Kilbride
Carlisle
M74 Link
Tradeston (A8)
Kinning Park
M77




Kilmarnock
Prestwick Airport
M77 Link
LanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanes
LanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanes
LanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanes
LanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanes
0.4 miles, 4 lanes 0.4 miles, 2+2 lanes
23 B768

B768

Govan
B768
LanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanes LanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanes
LanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanes
0.5 miles, 3 lanes 0.5 miles, 3 lanes
24 Govan
A761
(A8) (A761) Paisley
A761
LanesLanesLanesLanesLanes LanesLanesLanesLanesLanes
0.5 miles, 3 lanes 0.5 miles, 3 lanes
25 Clyde Tunnel
A739
A739 A739



Clyde Tunnel
A739
LanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanes Signs LanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanes Signs
1 mile, 4 lanes 0.7 miles, 4 lanes
25A Braehead
LanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanes
  0.3 miles, 4 lanes
26 Govan
A8
Hillington
A736
A736
(A8)
A736 Renfrew
A8
Hillington
A736
LanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanes LanesLanesLanesLanesLanesLanes
2 miles, 3 lanes 2 miles, 3 lanes
27 Paisley
Renfrew
A741
A741 A741 Paisley
Renfrew
A741
LanesLanesLanesLanesLanes Signs LanesLanesLanesLanesLanes Signs
1.5 miles, 3 lanes  
River or canal White Cart Water River or canal White Cart Water
  1 mile, 3 lanes
28 Airport Glasgow Airport
LanesLanesLanesLanesLanes
  0.5 miles, 3 lanes
28A Irvine
A737
LanesLanesLanesLanesLanes Signs LanesLanesLanesLanesLanes Signs
0.2 miles, 2 lanes 0.2 miles, 2 lanes
29 Glasgow Airport
Paisley A726
Irvine
A737
A726


A726


A737

Paisley
A726
LanesLanesLanesLanes Signs LanesLanesLanesLanes Signs
3.4 miles, 2 lanes 2.6 miles, 2 lanes
29A A8 A8 Bishopton
A8
LanesLanesLanesLanes
  0.8 miles, 2 lanes
30 Erskine Bridge
Erskine
M898 Link
M898 Erskine Bridge
Erskine
M898 Link
LanesLanesLanesLanes LanesLanesLanesLanes
4 miles, 2 lanes 4 miles, 2 lanes
31 Bishopton
A8
Glasgow
M8

A8
WEST
A8


Greenock
A8
Bishopton
A8
LanesLanesLanesLanes Signs LanesLanesLanesLanes Signs
Routes
M8

With thanks to Paul McCulloch, John Prentice, Alistair Stewart, Kev, Allan McPhail, Ian Bailey, Ashley Sharp, Andrew Hamilton, Fraser, Brian Smith and Phil for information on this page.

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