M73 motorway

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox road

File:M73 plus Blue Railway Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 127406.jpg
The M73 just before the Gartcosh cutoff

The M73 is a motorway in Glasgow and North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is Template:Convert 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, east of Swinton. The North Clyde railway line passes underneath the M73 immediately north of this interchange. The M73 then passes alongside Woodend Loch before reaching junction 2A at Gartcosh. There is then a further Template:Convert of motorway, before traffic exits onto the M80 eastbound (on a north easterly heading).

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Junction 2A was added at a later date.<ref name="cbrd">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Further work in 2017 improved access from the M74 at Junction 3A, and from the M8 and A8 at Baillieston Interchange.<ref>New aerial footage as M8 M73 M74 project nears completion, Daily Record, 5 January 2017</ref>

Junctions

County Location mi km Junction Destinations Notes
North Lanarkshire Glasgow 0 0 1<ref group=coord>Template:Coord</ref> Template:Jct – Carlisle, Glasgow
Glasgow 1.5 2.4 2<ref group=coord>Template:Coord</ref> Template:Jct – Edinburgh, Glasgow
Template:Jct – Barlanark,
Template:Jct – Gallowgate, Coatbridge
No Northbound entrance from West on M8
North Lanarkshire 4.2 6.8 2a<ref group=coord>Template:Coord</ref> Template:Jct – Gartcosh, Muirhead
6.4 10.3 3<ref group=coord>Template:Coord</ref> Template:Jct – Stirling
Template:Jct – Moodiesburn, Chryston
No exit to M80 going Westward or entrance from M80 from the West

Template:Jctbtm

Coordinate list

<references group=coord/>

See also

References

Template:Reflist

Template:Attached KML

Template:UK motorways Template:Transport in Glasgow