Lanark and Hamilton East MP Angela Crawley has today welcomed the completion of the M8, M73 and M74 project.

The new motorway was officially opened today (14th August) by the First Minister at Eurocentral Business Park.

The infrastructure investment totalled at £500 million and now stretches unbroken for nearly 60 miles, from just outside Greenock, in the west, right across the country to Edinburgh.

The M74 has also been widened to four lanes in sections to ease congestion and improve the flow of traffic around Lanarkshire and beyond.

Commenting after the opening, Angela said:

“Scotland’s busiest road is now fit for purpose. For decades, drivers had been forced to leave the motorway and use the old A8, bringing additional restrictions and delays, particularly at the busiest times.

“The notorious bottleneck at the Raith junction on the M74 has been removed with construction of an underpass, improving journeys on the A725.

“With an investment on this scale, economic opportunities arise, both during and after the project.

“For years thousands of employees have worked and contributed to the economies surrounding the works. Now businesses across Lanarkshire, Glasgow and Edinburgh will now benefit from a reduction in journey times, reduced emissions and less barriers to trade.

“Over time, people will truly start to feel the benefits of this scheme and others in the pipeline with tangible differences to our economy, improved business and connectivity, north to south and east to west.

“I thank the Scottish Government for their commitment to investing in Lanarkshire and look forward to future projects in the pipeline.”