M73 motorway
Encyclopedia
The M73 is a motorway in North Lanarkshire
, Scotland
. It is 7 miles (11.3 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.
, 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 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.
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.
North Lanarkshire
North Lanarkshire is one of 32 council areas in Scotland. It borders onto the northeast of the City of Glasgow and contains much of Glasgow's suburbs and commuter towns and villages. It also borders Stirling, Falkirk, East Dunbartonshire, West Lothian and South Lanarkshire...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It is 7 miles (11.3 km) long and connects the M74 motorway
M74 motorway
The A74 and M74 motorways form a major motorway in Scotland. Following an extension opened on 28 June 2011, it connects the M8 motorway west of Glasgow to the English border at Gretna, creating an alternative route for traffic moving from the south to the west of the city...
with the M80 motorway
M80 motorway
The M80 is a motorway in central Scotland, running through Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, Falkirk and Stirling and links the M8, the M73 and M9 motorways. Following completion in 2011, this road is long. From 1992 - 2011, the road was in two sections; the southern section, Glasgow to Stepps and the...
, providing an eastern bypass for Glasgow. The short stretch between Junctions 1 and 2 is part of unsigned international E-road network
International E-road network
The international E-road network is a numbering system for roads in Europe developed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe . The network is numbered from E 1 up and its roads cross national borders...
E05, where it continues along the M8 through Glasgow. To the south, the M74 motorway
M74 motorway
The A74 and M74 motorways form a major motorway in Scotland. Following an extension opened on 28 June 2011, it connects the M8 motorway west of Glasgow to the English border at Gretna, creating an alternative route for traffic moving from the south to the west of the city...
is also part of the E05.
Route
Starting at the M74 junction 4 (M73 junction 1) by the River ClydeRiver Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
, it proceeds north with Birkenshaw
Birkenshaw, North Lanarkshire
Birkenshaw is a village in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, to the east of Glasgow, and in proximity to Uddingston, Tannochside and Viewpark. Birkenshaw is largely a housing estate, but is more widely known for the Birkenshaw trading estate, popular with couples on weekends for its range of DIY,...
to the east and crosses the Whifflet railway line
Whifflet Line
The Whifflet Line is one of the lines within the Strathclyde suburban rail network in Scotland.- History :The line was built between 1863 and 1865 as the Rutherglen and Coatbridge Railway, part of the Caledonian Railway. It opened to goods traffic in September 1865 and to passengers in August...
before meeting the M8 and A8 at a three level interchange, west of Swinton
Swinton, Glasgow
Swinton is an eastern suburb of the Scottish city of Glasgow, north of the areas of Baillieston and Garrowhill and is now concurrent with the nineteenth century Easterhouse village. Easterhouse train station gives direct access to the centre of Glasgow....
. Immediately afterwards the North Clyde railway line
North Clyde Line
The North Clyde Line is a suburban railway in West Central Scotland. The route is operated by First ScotRail, on behalf of Transport Scotland...
and then passes alongside Woodend Loch before reaching junction 2A at Gartcosh
Gartcosh
Gartcosh is a village in North Lanarkshire, Scotland. The village lies a few miles east of Glasgow, and about a mile northwest of the town of Coatbridge....
. There is then a further 2 miles (3.2 km) of motorway, before traffic exits onto the M80 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 and future plans
Construction began in 1969 with the motorway opening between May 1971 and April 1972. Junction 2A was added at a later date.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.
Junctions
| M73 Motorway | ||
| Northbound | Junction | Southbound |
| Cumbernauld Cumbernauld Cumbernauld is a Scottish new town in North Lanarkshire. It was created in 1956 as a population overspill for Glasgow City. It is the eighth most populous settlement in Scotland and the largest in North Lanarkshire... , Stirling Stirling Stirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth... M80 M80 motorway The M80 is a motorway in central Scotland, running through Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, Falkirk and Stirling and links the M8, the M73 and M9 motorways. Following completion in 2011, this road is long. From 1992 - 2011, the road was in two sections; the southern section, Glasgow to Stepps and the... |
J3 | Start of motorway |
| Gartcosh Gartcosh Gartcosh is a village in North Lanarkshire, Scotland. The village lies a few miles east of Glasgow, and about a mile northwest of the town of Coatbridge.... , Muirhead Muirhead Muirhead is a small suburb about 7 miles North-East of Glasgow city centre. Nearby villages and towns include Chryston, Stepps, Lenzie, Garnkirk and Gartcosh.... (A752) |
J2A | Gartcosh, Muirhead (A752) |
| Edinburgh Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area... , Livingston Livingston, Scotland Livingston is a town in West Lothian, Scotland. It is the fourth post-WWII new town to be built in Scotland, designated in 1962. It is about 15 miles west of Edinburgh and 30 miles east of Glasgow, and is bordered by the towns of Broxburn to the northeast and Bathgate to the northwest.Livingston... A8 (M8) |
J2 | Edinburgh, Livingston A8 Glasgow (East) M8 |
| Glasgow (East) M8 | No exit | |
| Start of Motorway | J1/ M74 J4 |
The SOUTH, Carlisle Glasgow (Centre) M74 (M6) |
See also
- List of motorways in the United Kingdom
- M80 Motorway - Completion Project