A major motorway project, expected to deliver real benefits in the Central Belt, moved forward today with publication of Prior Information Notice.

The publication of this notice for the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements Project signals the start of procurement. Transport Scotland will now be engaging with the construction industry, ahead of issuing the OJEU notice in the Spring, seeking expressions of interest from companies wishing to tender.

Transport Minister Keith Brown said: “This is a key delivery milestone of this significant project that will complete the last remaining gap in the central Scotland motorway network. On completion, it will further boost the nation’s economy by improving connections between the commercial centres of Glasgow and Edinburgh and beyond.

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“This latest investment by the Scottish Government follows on from the successful delivery earlier this year of the M74 and M80. Like these other projects, drivers can expect the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements project to reduce congestion while enabling safer, quicker journeys.

“With benefits for drivers and businesses alike, this is a key enabler in helping promote sustainable economic growth by improving access to facilities and employment areas and reducing the time to transport goods and services.”

This ambitious project combines the upgrade of A8 Baillieston to Newhouse, completing the motorway between Glasgow and Edinburgh, work to improve Raith Interchange and the widening of key sections of the M8, M73 and M74. Procuring all three together under a Non-Profit Distributing (NPD) contract will help deliver economies of scale and efficiencies for the public purse for the construction, maintenance and operation of these key infrastructure improvements.

A review of the cost estimate of the NPD will be completed in time for the issue of the OJEU in the Spring.

It is anticipated that construction will commence in late 2013 with completion by 2017.

(GK)