Road connections from West Lothian to Glasgow and southwards to the M74 and England are to be improved. The section of A8 from Ballieston to Newhouse that is currently dual carriageway is intended to be upgraded to dual three-lane equivalent motorway standard.
The junction at Shawhead will also be upgraded to improve connections to the A725 and the M74. Depending on the public local inquiry process a construction contract could be awarded by 2008 with completion by 2011.
The capital cost for the upgrading of the A8 on the line of the existing road is estimated to be in the order of £150 million to £180 million. These costs include an allowance for the cost of any land required. However, the actual costs will be refined during the development of the delivery brief depending on the extent to which the adopted scheme may vary from that recommended by the consultants on the basis of their preliminary assessments.
For more information go to about the scheme go to the M8 Completion Website.
