THE cost of the project to return Glasgow’s M8 to full capacity now stands at £126-152 million, Transport Scotland has said.
Ongoing design and construction works has revealed the extent and complexity of the measures required to temporarily prop the M8’s viaducts, with this resulting in revised estimated costs and timescales.
The temporary propping work is now expected to be fully completed in early 2026, Transport Scotland said. However, it added that it is working towards delivering the eastbound carriageway sooner – with it earmarked for summer 2025.
Transport Scotland’s director of major projects, Lawrence Shackman, said, “The M8 Woodside Viaducts are a vital element of Scotland’s motorway network, carrying 150,000 vehicles daily. Our principal contractor, Amey, has been delivering this highly complex work on behalf of Transport Scotland while ensuring this busy section of the M8 motorway remains open.
“The ongoing temporary propping works are challenging due to the varying ground conditions and site constraints, including the presence of a plethora of public utilities as well as the Glasgow subway underground tunnels. Once the structure is fully propped, lane restrictions on the M8 can be removed.
“The construction programme expects the eastbound viaduct lane restrictions to be removed in summer 2025, followed by the removal of the westbound viaduct lane restrictions in early 2026.”
