Section of M8 to close for demolition of old footbridge

A section of the M8 in Glasgow will be closed completely to traffic this weekend to allow for the demolition of a deteriorating footbridge.

The motorway between J19 eastbound and J15 westbound will be shut in both directions for a 12-hour period between 10pm on Saturday and 10am on Sunday.

A programme of other closures have also been scheduled to support the construction works at Sighthill.

Scheduled closures

Thursday, July 30: Full eastbound closure, 10pm-6am
Friday, July 31: Full westbound closure, 10pm-6am
Saturday, August 1: Both lanes closed, 10pm-10am
Sunday, August 2: Westbound closure and lane four of eastbound, 10pm-6am
Monday, August 3: Eastbound closure and lane four of westbound, 10pm-6am

Diversions have been put in place. The work is being delivered as part of a £250m regeneration of Sighthill.

The footbridge, which connects Baird Street in Glasgow city centre to the Sighthill area, will be replaced with a landmark new pedestrian and cycle bridge, providing a sustainable transport corridor between central and north Glasgow.

To deliver the work, a 1000-tonne crane will be positioned on the road throughout the closures and will be used to remove the pedestrian bridge in two sections.

The concrete will then be removed from the site using HGVs parked on the carriageway.

Further road closures to complete the construction of the new crossing are planned for the summer of 2021.

Councillor Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “This section of the M8 is one of the busiest routes on the city’s road network, so this work has been meticulously planned to keep the impact on traffic to an absolute minimum.

“The demolition is the first step in a fantastic project to deliver a stunning new pedestrian and cycle route over the M8, connecting Sighthill and neighbouring communities to the city centre.

“We hope that regular travellers on this route will enjoy seeing the improvements emerging as the works are continued.”