Major M8 roadworks delayed by over a year as costs soar by £71m

Major roadworks on Scotland’s busiest motorway have been delayed by more than a year and will now cost up to £71m more than planned.

Transport Scotland said that there had been a “revised cost and timescale” for Glasgow’s M8 Woodside Viaducts temporary propping works.

The works were originally planned to be completed in late 2024, after starting in 2021, but are now expected to be fully completed in early 2026.

The Scottish Government’s transport department added that the contractor is working towards delivering the eastbound carriageway sooner, in summer 2025.

The cost range for the project is now an estimated £126m to £152m – an increase on the previous estimated cost of £81.6m.

Transport Scotland said that ongoing design and construction works had revealed the extent and complexity of the measures required to temporarily prop the viaducts and return the M8 to full traffic capacity.

Lawrence Shackman, Transport Scotland’s director of major projects, said: “The M8 Woodside Viaducts are a vital element of Scotland’s motorway network, carrying 150,000 vehicles daily.

“Our principal contractor, Amey, has been delivering this highly complex work on behalf of Transport Scotland while ensuring this busy section of the M8 motorway remains open.

“The ongoing temporary propping works are challenging due to the varying ground conditions and site constraints, including the presence of a plethora of public utilities as well as the Glasgow subway underground tunnels.

“Once the structure is fully propped, lane restrictions on the M8 can be removed.

“The construction programme expects the eastbound viaduct lane restrictions to be removed in summer 2025, followed by the removal of the westbound viaduct lane restrictions in early 2026.”