The M73 just before the Gartcosh cutoff

The M73 is a motorway in Glasgow and North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is 7 miles (11 km) long and connects the M74 motorway with the M80 motorway, providing an eastern bypass for Glasgow. The short stretch between junctions 1 and 2 is part of unsigned international E-road network E05, where it continues along the M8 through Glasgow. To the south, the M74 motorway is also part of the E05.

Route

Starting at the M74 junction 4 (M73 junction 1) by the River Clyde, it proceeds north with Birkenshaw to the east and crosses the Whifflet railway line before meeting the M8 and A8 at a three-level interchange, west of Swinton. Immediately afterwards the North Clyde railway line and then passes alongside Woodend Loch before reaching junction 2A at Gartcosh. There is then a further 2 miles (3.2 km) of motorway, before traffic exits onto the M80 westbound.

The road is a dual three-lane road between junctions 1 and 2, and a dual two-lane road between junctions 2 and 3. It is subject to the national speed limit.

History and future plans

Construction began in 1969 with the motorway opening between May 1971 and April 1972.[2] Junction 2A was added at a later date.[1]

In 2011, the northern end was extended as part of the M80 completion project. This connects the motorway into the completed M80 at a new interchange.[3] Further work in 2017 improved access from the M74 at Junction 3A, and from the M8 and A8 at Baillieston Interchange.[4]

Junctions

County Location mi km Junction Destinations Notes
North Lanarkshire Glasgow 0 0 1[coord 1] M74 – Carlisle, Glasgow
Glasgow 1.5 2.4 2[coord 2] M8 – Edinburgh, Glasgow
A8 – Barlanark,
A89 – Gallowgate, Coatbridge 		No Northbound entrance from West on M8
North Lanarkshire 4.2 6.8 2a[coord 3] A752 – Gartcosh, Muirhead
6.4 10.3 3[coord 4] M80 – Stirling
A80 – Moodiesburn, Chryston 		No exit to M80 going Westward or entrance from M80 from the West
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
Coordinate list
  1. ^ 55°49′57″N 4°06′04″W / 55.8326°N 4.1010°W / 55.8326; -4.1010 (Junction 1 of M73)
  2. ^ 55°51′11″N 4°05′23″W / 55.8530°N 4.0898°W / 55.8530; -4.0898 (Junction 2 of M73)
  3. ^ 55°53′27″N 4°04′30″W / 55.8908°N 4.0750°W / 55.8908; -4.0750 (Junction 2a of M73)
  4. ^ 55°55′11″N 4°03′42″W / 55.9197°N 4.0616°W / 55.9197; -4.0616 (Junction 3 of M73)

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "CBRD Motorway Database – M73". Cbrd.co.uk. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  2. ^ "The Motorway Archive – M73 Dates Page". Iht.org. Archived from the original on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  3. ^ Official M80 Completion Website – Scheme Map (PDF)
  4. ^ New aerial footage as M8 M73 M74 project nears completion, Daily Record, 5 January 2017

External links

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