M73 motorway

M73
Route information
Part of E05
Length	7.0 mi (11.3 km)
Existed	1969–present
History	constructed 1969 – 2011
Major junctions
South end	Uddingston[1]
Major intersections	M74 motorway M8 motorway M80 motorway
North end	Mollinsburn
Location
Primary destinations	Cumbernauld, Hamilton, Motherwell, Carlisle
Road network
Roads in the United Kingdom Motorways A and B road zones
← M69 → M74

The M73 just before the Gartcosh cutoff

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.

Route[]

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 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.

History and future plans[]

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[]

This article contains a bulleted list or table of intersections which should be presented in a properly formatted junction table. Please consult this guideline for information on how to create one. Please if you can. (December 2021)

The interchange with the M74.

See also[]

• List of motorways in the United Kingdom
• M80 Motorway – Completion Project

References[]

External links[]

Route map:

• Glasgow Motorway Archive – The M73 Motorway
• The Motorway Archive – M73