10-lane upgrade for A8 is shelved
Page 9
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• The Department of Transport has shelved plans to upgrade the AS dual carriageway between Baillieston and Newhouse in central Scotland to a 10-lane motorway. This comes three months before the Scottish strategic roads review comes out in November after pressure was put on the Scottish Office by MP Tom Clarke.
The .£100m project was given the green light by the last Conservative Government. However, Scottish Office Minister Henry McLeish says: "This project would have massively increased road capacity which would have increased congestion, at odds with Government policy." The Scottish Office says "more modest options" for the A8 will be in the roads review.
Tom Hamilton of Kinglassie, a regular user of the A8, slams the move as deplorable: "it took me 12 minutes to move 200 yards this afternoon on the road--it is dangerously congested. These delays cost hauliers dear; we have to pay drivers extra wages for extra time spent on the road."