The M73 is a motorway in Glasgow and North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is 7 miles (11 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.

M73 shield
M73
Map
M73 highlighted in blue
Route information
Part of E05
Length7.0 mi (11.3 km)
Existed1969–present
Historyconstructed 1969 – 2011
Major junctions
South endUddingston[1]
Major intersections
M74 motorway

M8 motorway

M80 motorway
North endMollinsburn
Location
CountryUnited Kingdom
Primary
destinations
Cumbernauld, Hamilton, Motherwell, Carlisle
Road network
M69 M74
The M73 just before the Gartcosh cutoff

Route

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

History and future plans

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Construction began in 1969 with the motorway opening between May 1971 and April 1972.[2] Junction 2A was added at a later date.[1]

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.[3] Further work in 2017 improved access from the M74 at Junction 3A, and from the M8 and A8 at Baillieston Interchange.[4]

Junctions

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County Location mi km Junction Destinations Notes
North Lanarkshire Glasgow 0 0 1[coord 1]   M74 – Carlisle, Glasgow
Glasgow 1.5 2.4 2[coord 2]   M8 – Edinburgh, Glasgow
  A8 – Barlanark,
  A89 – Gallowgate, Coatbridge
No Northbound entrance from West on M8
North Lanarkshire 4.2 6.8 2a[coord 3]   A752 – Gartcosh, Muirhead
6.4 10.3 3[coord 4]   M80 – Stirling
  A80 – Moodiesburn, Chryston
No exit to M80 going Westward or entrance from M80 from the West
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
Coordinate list
  1. ^ 55°49′57″N 4°06′04″W / 55.8326°N 4.1010°W / 55.8326; -4.1010 (Junction 1 of M73)
  2. ^ 55°51′11″N 4°05′23″W / 55.8530°N 4.0898°W / 55.8530; -4.0898 (Junction 2 of M73)
  3. ^ 55°53′27″N 4°04′30″W / 55.8908°N 4.0750°W / 55.8908; -4.0750 (Junction 2a of M73)
  4. ^ 55°55′11″N 4°03′42″W / 55.9197°N 4.0616°W / 55.9197; -4.0616 (Junction 3 of M73)
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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "CBRD Motorway Database – M73". Cbrd.co.uk. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  2. ^ "The Motorway Archive – M73 Dates Page". Iht.org. Archived from the original on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  3. ^ Official M80 Completion Website – Scheme Map (PDF)
  4. ^ New aerial footage as M8 M73 M74 project nears completion, Daily Record, 5 January 2017
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