M73 motorway



The M73 is a motorway in Glasgow and North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is 7 mi 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 Woodend Loch before reaching junction 2A at Gartcosh. There is then a further 2 mi 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
Construction began in 1969 with the motorway opening between May 1971 and April 1972. Junction 2A was added at a later date.

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

Junctions
{| class="plainrowheaders wikitable" !scope=col|County !scope=col|Location !scope=col|mi !scope=col|km !scope=col|Junction !scope=col|Destinations !scope=col|Notes
 * North Lanarkshire
 * rowspan="4" |Glasgow
 * 0
 * 0
 * 1
 * – Carlisle, Glasgow
 * Glasgow
 * 1.5
 * 2.4
 * bgcolor="ffdddd" |2
 * bgcolor="ffdddd" | – Edinburgh, Glasgow – Barlanark,  – Gallowgate, Coatbridge
 * bgcolor="ffdddd" |No Northbound entrance from West on M8
 * rowspan="2" |North Lanarkshire
 * 4.2
 * 6.8
 * 2a
 * – Gartcosh, Muirhead
 * 6.4
 * 10.3
 * bgcolor="ffdddd" |3
 * bgcolor="ffdddd" | – Stirling – Moodiesburn, Chryston
 * bgcolor="ffdddd" |No exit to M80 going Westward or entrance from M80 from the West
 * 6.4
 * 10.3
 * bgcolor="ffdddd" |3
 * bgcolor="ffdddd" | – Stirling – Moodiesburn, Chryston
 * bgcolor="ffdddd" |No exit to M80 going Westward or entrance from M80 from the West
 * bgcolor="ffdddd" |No exit to M80 going Westward or entrance from M80 from the West


 * Coordinate list