M73 motorway

UK motorway routebox
motorway= M73
length-mi= 7
length-km= 11.3
direction= South - North
start= Birkenshaw
destinations= Glasgow
end= Mollinsburn
opening-date= 1972
completion-date= entire motorway
junctions= 1 -

The M73 is a motorway in North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is 7 miles (11.3 km) long and connects the M74 motorway with the A80 road, 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 afterwarrds the North Clyde railway line and then passes alongside Woodend Loch before reaching junction 2A at Gartcosh. There is then a further 2 miles of motorway, before traffic exits onto the A80 westbound.

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

History & Future Plans

Construction began in 1969 with the motorway opening between May 1971 and April 1972 [ [http://www.iht.org/motorway/m73mamostat.htm The Motorway Archive - M73 Dates Page] ] . Junction 2A was added at a later date [ [http://www.cbrd.co.uk/motorway/m73/ CBRD Motorway Database - M73] ] .

The northern end is due to be extended as part of the M80 completion project. This will connect the motorway into the completed M80 at a new interchange [ [http://80.75.66.189/m80/files/schematic_scheme_drawing.pdf Official M80 Completion Website - Scheme Map (PDF)] ] .

Junctions

ee also

*List of motorways in the United Kingdom
*M80 Motorway - Completion Project

References

External links

* [http://www.cbrd.co.uk/motorway/m73/ CBRD Motorway Database - M73]
* [http://www.iht.org/motorway/m73marymoll.htm The Motorway Archive - M73]