M80 motorway
Encyclopedia
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 25 miles (40.2 km) long. From 1992 - 2011, the road was in two sections; the southern section, Glasgow to Stepps
and the northern section Haggs
to Stirling
. A connecting Stepps to Haggs section was completed in September 2011. The new section partially opened in February 2011 when the Moodiesburn
bypass opened to traffic, extending the southern section to Mollinsburn. The A80 between Mollinsburn and Auchenkilns was widened to three-lane carriageway in each direction, and the section from Auchenkilns to Haggs remains 2 lane, now with hard shoulders.
with exits for Bishopbriggs
, Lenzie
and Kirkintilloch
, where it continues onto the new section, completed in 2011.
, we rejoin the older section of the M80 (opened in 1974) and runs for about 1 miles (1.6 km) until it meets the M876
for traffic towards the Kincardine Bridge
. The M80 continues north passing to the west of Denny
and after 5 miles (8 km) meets a junction with the A91
(the same roundabout interchange also hosts Stirling Services
) and then merges into the M9 just outside Stirling at Bannockburn
.
and Auchenkilns, and the offline creation of new motorway from Stepps to Mollinsburn
. Although various plans were considered from the 1970s to 1990s to connect the two sections of motorway, it was not until 2003 that a definitive timeline for proposing, developing and executing a completion plan was announced.
Two routes were proposed for development: the so-called Kelvin Valley route, which would create a bypass to the north of the existing line of the A80, and the "online" upgrade of the existing A80 to motorway grade. In October 2005, the project was put to a public inquiry, which ended in August 2006. The Kelvin Valley route was not chosen as it would have breached the Antonine Wall
and destroyed the Castlecary
Roman
fort; instead the online upgrade of the A80 through Cumbernauld was selected.
Originally budgeted to cost £130m to £180m, but was estimated to cost £320m, preparatory works were started in November 2008, and construction work began in January 2009. The project was completed in September 2011.
The upgrade plans were set into three discrete phases. Phase one involved the creation of 8 kilometres of road from Stepps, routing north of Muirhead
, Moodiesburn
and Chryston
, and meeting the line of the existing A80 at Mollinsburn with the construction of a new interchange, connecting the M80 with the M73
and the western section of the A80. Phase two required the online upgrade of the A80 between Mollinsburn and Auchenkilns, with the attendant upgrade of adjoining on-slip and off-slip roads, meeting the Auchenkilns Interchange. The interchange was opened in November 2005 after the online grade separation
of the Auchenkilns Roundabout from the line of the dual carriageway created a grade separated dumbbell interchange, linking the A80 (and subsequently the M80) with the A73
and B8048. Phase three saw the A80 upgraded online from Auchenkilns to the Haggs Interchange east of Cumbernauld – also seeing some junctions being upgraded, but with some being removed – completing the connection of the western M80 to the eastern M80, and connecting to the M876
and M9
motorways. The M80 crosses the Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk railway line
and Forth and Clyde Canal
.
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...
, running through Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, North Lanarkshire
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...
, Falkirk
Falkirk (council area)
Falkirk is one of the 32 unitary authority council areas in Scotland. It borders onto North Lanarkshire to the south west, Stirling to the north west, West Lothian to the south east and, across the Firth of Forth to the north east, Fife and Clackmannanshire...
and Stirling
Stirling (council area)
Stirling is one of the 32 unitary local government council areas of Scotland, and has a population of about 87,000 . It was created under the Local Government etc Act 1994 with the boundaries of the Stirling district of the former Central local government region, and it covers most of the former...
and links the M8, the M73
M73 motorway
The M73 is a motorway in North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is 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...
and M9 motorways. Following completion in 2011, this road is 25 miles (40.2 km) long. From 1992 - 2011, the road was in two sections; the southern section, Glasgow to Stepps
Stepps
Stepps is a small town in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, on the north-eastern outskirts of Glasgow. The town consists of Stepps Village, Cardowan, Stepps Hill and Millerston...
and the northern section Haggs
Haggs
Haggs is a small village in the Falkirk council area of Scotland. The village is situated south-west of Bonnybridge, nort-northeast of Kilsyth and south-southwest of Denny, on the east side of the A80 road which separates it from Banknock....
to 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...
. A connecting Stepps to Haggs section was completed in September 2011. The new section partially opened in February 2011 when the Moodiesburn
Moodiesburn
Moodiesburn is a residential suburb located 8 miles north-east of Glasgow city centre, in the North Lanarkshire council area of Scotland. It is situated on the A80 road, between Stepps and Cumbernauld.-Landmarks:...
bypass opened to traffic, extending the southern section to Mollinsburn. The A80 between Mollinsburn and Auchenkilns was widened to three-lane carriageway in each direction, and the section from Auchenkilns to Haggs remains 2 lane, now with hard shoulders.
Route
The M80 was constructed in 3 stages: M8 to Stepps (opened 1992), Stepps to Haggs (opened 2011), and Haggs to the Pirnhall (opened 1974).M8 to Stepps (Junctions 1 to 3)
This section of road was originally envisioned during the M8's construction in the 1960s, but was not realised until 1992), also known as the 'Stepps Bypass' begins at M8 Junction 13 in the Glasgow suburb of Blochairn. It runs to the north of Stepps, under the Cumbernauld Railway LineCumbernauld Line
The Cumbernauld Line is a suburban railway line linking Glasgow and Cumbernauld in Scotland. It is part of the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport network.On weekdays and Saturdays, alternate trains continue towards Falkirk Grahamston....
with exits for Bishopbriggs
Bishopbriggs
Bishopbriggs is a town in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland. The area was once part of the historic parish of Cadder - originally lands granted by King William the Lion to the Bishop of Glasgow, Jocelin, in 1180. It was later part of the county of Lanarkshire and subsequently an independent burgh from...
, Lenzie
Lenzie
Lenzie is a small town by the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway in the East Dunbartonshire council area of Scotland. It is about six miles north-east of Glasgow city centre and one mile south of Kirkintilloch. It has a population of about 10,000.-Name:...
and Kirkintilloch
Kirkintilloch
Kirkintilloch is a town and former burgh in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland. It lies on the Forth and Clyde Canal, about eight miles northeast of central Glasgow...
, where it continues onto the new section, completed in 2011.
Stepps to Haggs (Junctions 3 to 7)
The Stepps to Haggs section was completed in September 2011, completing the M80 route. A short section of offline upgrade takes the route from the former terminus at Junction 3 (Stepps), to a new Junction with the M73. After this, the route follows an on-line upgrade of the former A80 through Cumbernauld. It is mainly 2 lane dual carriageway.Haggs to Pirnhall (Junctions 7 to 9)
At the junction with the A803A803 road
The A803 is a road in central Scotland. It runs from Glasgow to Champany Corner .-Route:Beginning at Springburn in Glasgow, the A803 passes through the towns of Bishopbriggs, Kirkintilloch, Kilsyth, Banknock, Haggs, Bonnybridge, Falkirk, Laurieston, ending east of Linlithgow.It connects to the...
, we rejoin the older section of the M80 (opened in 1974) and runs for about 1 miles (1.6 km) until it meets the M876
M876 motorway
The M876 motorway is a motorway in Scotland. The motorway runs from Denny to Airth in the Falkirk council area, forming an approach road to the Kincardine Bridge. It was opened in 1980....
for traffic towards the Kincardine Bridge
Kincardine Bridge
The Kincardine Bridge is a road bridge crossing the Firth of Forth from Falkirk council area to Kincardine-on-Forth, Fife, Scotland.-History:The bridge was constructed between 1932 and 1936, designed by Donald Watson...
. The M80 continues north passing to the west of Denny
Denny, Falkirk
Denny is a town in the Falkirk council area of Scotland, formerly in the county of Stirlingshire. It is situated west of Falkirk, and north-east of Cumbernauld, adjacent to both the M80 and M876 motorways...
and after 5 miles (8 km) meets a junction with the A91
A91 road
The A91 is a major road in Scotland, United Kingdom. It runs from St Andrews to Bannockburn, via Cupar. Along the way, the road runs adjacent to parts of the St. Andrews Old Course and Jubilee golf courses into Guardbridge. Past Guardbridge is Clayton Caravan Park. Further towards Cupar is the Eden...
(the same roundabout interchange also hosts Stirling Services
Stirling services
Stirling services is a motorway service station near Stirling, Scotland. The service station is located where the M9 motorway and M80 motorway join. It is owned by Moto.- External links :*...
) and then merges into the M9 just outside Stirling at Bannockburn
Bannockburn
Bannockburn is a village immediately south of the city of Stirling in Scotland. It is named after the Bannock Burn, a burn running through the village before flowing into the River Forth.-History:...
.
Junctions
| M80 Motorway | ||
| Northbound exits | Junction | Southbound exits |
| Start of motorway | M8 J13 | City Centre Glasgow Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands... , Greenock Greenock Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland... , Glasgow Airport Glasgow International Airport Glasgow International Airport is an international airport in Scotland, located west of Glasgow city centre, near the towns of Paisley and Renfrew in Renfrewshire... M8 |
| No exit | J1 | Blochairn, Carntyne |
| Bishopbriggs, Robroyston Robroyston Robroyston is a northeastern suburb of the city of Glasgow, Scotland. It was where Scottish leader William Wallace was turned over to English soldiers in 1305. At the site of Wallace's capture there stands a monument — there have also been proposals put forward for a Visitors Centre in the area,... B765 |
J2 | Bishopbriggs, Robroyston B765 |
| Kirkintilloch Kirkintilloch Kirkintilloch is a town and former burgh in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland. It lies on the Forth and Clyde Canal, about eight miles northeast of central Glasgow... , Stepps Stepps Stepps is a small town in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, on the north-eastern outskirts of Glasgow. The town consists of Stepps Village, Cardowan, Stepps Hill and Millerston... A806 |
J3 | Kirkintilloch Kirkintilloch Kirkintilloch is a town and former burgh in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland. It lies on the Forth and Clyde Canal, about eight miles northeast of central Glasgow... , Stepps Stepps Stepps is a small town in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, on the north-eastern outskirts of Glasgow. The town consists of Stepps Village, Cardowan, Stepps Hill and Millerston... A806 |
| Moodiesburn, Mollinsburn A80 | J4 | The SOUTH, Glasgow (SE), Carlisle (M74 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... ) M73 M73 motorway The M73 is a motorway in North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is 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... Moodiesburn, Mollinsburn A80 |
| Kirkintilloch, Kilsyth, Cumbernauld A8011 (B8048) | J4A | No Exit |
| Airdrie A73 A73 road The A73 is a former trunk route in Scotland, that connects the M74 at Abington, Jct. 13 to the M80 motorway at Cumbernauld. Running for approximately , it passes through the towns of Lanark, Carluke, Newmains, Chapelhall and Airdrie... |
J5 | Airdrie A73 A73 road The A73 is a former trunk route in Scotland, that connects the M74 at Abington, Jct. 13 to the M80 motorway at Cumbernauld. Running for approximately , it passes through the towns of Lanark, Carluke, Newmains, Chapelhall and Airdrie... Kirkintilloch, Kilsyth, Cumbernauld B8048 |
| Cumbernauld, Dullatur, Castlecary A8011 | J6 | Cumbernauld, Dullatur, Castlecary A8011 |
| No Exit | J6A | Bonnybridge B816 |
| Bonnybridge Bonnybridge Bonnybridge is a small town in the Falkirk council area of Scotland. It is west of Falkirk, north-east of Cumbernauld and south-southwest of Stirling. The town is situated near the Bonny Water which runs through the town and lies north of the Forth and Clyde Canal... , Denny Denny, Falkirk Denny is a town in the Falkirk council area of Scotland, formerly in the county of Stirlingshire. It is situated west of Falkirk, and north-east of Cumbernauld, adjacent to both the M80 and M876 motorways... , Kilsyth Kilsyth Kilsyth is a town of 10,100 roughly halfway between Glasgow and Stirling in North Lanarkshire, Scotland.-Location:... A803 |
J7 | Bonnybridge Bonnybridge Bonnybridge is a small town in the Falkirk council area of Scotland. It is west of Falkirk, north-east of Cumbernauld and south-southwest of Stirling. The town is situated near the Bonny Water which runs through the town and lies north of the Forth and Clyde Canal... , Kilsyth Kilsyth Kilsyth is a town of 10,100 roughly halfway between Glasgow and Stirling in North Lanarkshire, Scotland.-Location:... A803 |
| Kincardine Bridge Kincardine Bridge The Kincardine Bridge is a road bridge crossing the Firth of Forth from Falkirk council area to Kincardine-on-Forth, Fife, Scotland.-History:The bridge was constructed between 1932 and 1936, designed by Donald Watson... , Falkirk Falkirk Falkirk is a town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies in the Forth Valley, almost midway between the two most populous cities of Scotland; north-west of Edinburgh and north-east of Glasgow.... , Grangemouth Grangemouth Grangemouth is a town and former burgh in the council area of Falkirk, Scotland. The town lies in the Forth Valley, on the banks of the Firth of Forth, east of Falkirk, west of Bo'ness and south-east of Stirling. Grangemouth had a resident population of 17,906 according to the 2001... M876 |
J8 | No exit |
| Stirling A91 Stirling services Stirling services Stirling services is a motorway service station near Stirling, Scotland. The service station is located where the M9 motorway and M80 motorway join. It is owned by Moto.- External links :*... |
J9 | No exit |
| Road continues as M9 towards Perth Perth, Scotland Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire... |
Start of motorway | |
M80 Stepps to Haggs Completion
The M80 Stepps to Haggs Completion Project connected the two halves of the current motorway via an online upgrade of the existing A80, passing through CumbernauldCumbernauld
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...
and Auchenkilns, and the offline creation of new motorway from Stepps to Mollinsburn
Mollinsburn
Mollinsburn is a settlement in the North Lanarkshire area of Scotland. It is situated on the A80 road between Condorrat to the east and Moodiesburn to the west. The population is around 100....
. Although various plans were considered from the 1970s to 1990s to connect the two sections of motorway, it was not until 2003 that a definitive timeline for proposing, developing and executing a completion plan was announced.
Two routes were proposed for development: the so-called Kelvin Valley route, which would create a bypass to the north of the existing line of the A80, and the "online" upgrade of the existing A80 to motorway grade. In October 2005, the project was put to a public inquiry, which ended in August 2006. The Kelvin Valley route was not chosen as it would have breached the Antonine Wall
Antonine Wall
The Antonine Wall is a stone and turf fortification built by the Romans across what is now the Central Belt of Scotland, between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Clyde. Representing the northernmost frontier barrier of the Roman Empire, it spanned approximately 39 miles and was about ten feet ...
and destroyed the Castlecary
Castlecary
Castlecary is a small village on the border between the North Lanarkshire and Falkirk council areas in Scotland. It is close to the new town of Cumbernauld....
Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
fort; instead the online upgrade of the A80 through Cumbernauld was selected.
Originally budgeted to cost £130m to £180m, but was estimated to cost £320m, preparatory works were started in November 2008, and construction work began in January 2009. The project was completed in September 2011.
The upgrade plans were set into three discrete phases. Phase one involved the creation of 8 kilometres of road from Stepps, routing north of 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....
, Moodiesburn
Moodiesburn
Moodiesburn is a residential suburb located 8 miles north-east of Glasgow city centre, in the North Lanarkshire council area of Scotland. It is situated on the A80 road, between Stepps and Cumbernauld.-Landmarks:...
and Chryston
Chryston
Chryston is a village in the central belt of Scotland in the county of North Lanarkshire. Founded by James Burns Pollock, It is north of the main trunk road between Glasgow and Stirling ....
, and meeting the line of the existing A80 at Mollinsburn with the construction of a new interchange, connecting the M80 with the M73
M73 motorway
The M73 is a motorway in North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is 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...
and the western section of the A80. Phase two required the online upgrade of the A80 between Mollinsburn and Auchenkilns, with the attendant upgrade of adjoining on-slip and off-slip roads, meeting the Auchenkilns Interchange. The interchange was opened in November 2005 after the online grade separation
Grade separation
Grade separation is the method of aligning a junction of two or more transport axes at different heights so that they will not disrupt the traffic flow on other transit routes when they cross each other. The composition of such transport axes does not have to be uniform; it can consist of a...
of the Auchenkilns Roundabout from the line of the dual carriageway created a grade separated dumbbell interchange, linking the A80 (and subsequently the M80) with the A73
A73 road
The A73 is a former trunk route in Scotland, that connects the M74 at Abington, Jct. 13 to the M80 motorway at Cumbernauld. Running for approximately , it passes through the towns of Lanark, Carluke, Newmains, Chapelhall and Airdrie...
and B8048. Phase three saw the A80 upgraded online from Auchenkilns to the Haggs Interchange east of Cumbernauld – also seeing some junctions being upgraded, but with some being removed – completing the connection of the western M80 to the eastern M80, and connecting to the M876
M876 motorway
The M876 motorway is a motorway in Scotland. The motorway runs from Denny to Airth in the Falkirk council area, forming an approach road to the Kincardine Bridge. It was opened in 1980....
and M9
M9 motorway
The M9 motorway is a major motorway in Scotland. It runs from the outskirts of Edinburgh, bypassing the towns of Linlithgow, Falkirk, Grangemouth and Stirling to end at Dunblane.- Route :...
motorways. The M80 crosses the Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk railway line
Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk Line
The Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk Line is a mainline railway line linking Glasgow and Edinburgh via Falkirk in Scotland. It is the principal route out of the four rail links between Scotland's two biggest cities, hosting the flagship "Shuttle" service between and .- Places served :The route...
and Forth and Clyde Canal
Forth and Clyde Canal
The Forth and Clyde Canal crosses Scotland, providing a route for sea-going vessels between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Clyde at the narrowest part of the Scottish Lowlands. The canal is 35 miles long and its eastern end is connected to the River Forth by a short stretch of the River...
.