The new £500 million M8/M73/M74 Motorway Improvements Project has been officially opened.

The scheme, which includes a new seven-mile stretch of the M8 motorway, was unveiled by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

The route between Newhouse and Baillieston was completed in April and opened to traffic then. It aims to tackle congestion problems in central Scotland and is the first part of a combined £1.7 billion investment by Transport Scotland in the roads network.

New analysis by Transport Scotland shows journey times are significantly improved, with vehicles now travelling along the M8 at an average speed of almost 70mph.

During construction, the project provided training and employment to more than 8,000 workers, who contributed more than 6.5 million hours of work to deliver the improvements. In addition, the scheme provided a minimum of 30 graduate and apprenticeship positions during the three year construction period, with a further 20 construction jobs each year aimed at the long-term unemployed.

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The project is also expected to provide sustainable long-term employment opportunities for approximately 60 full-time staff during the operation and maintenance of these routes over a 30-year period.

Speaking at the Maxim Business Park at Eurocentral, the First Minister said: "This new length of motorway has completed the M8 link between Glasgow and Edinburgh and Scotland's previously most congested junction.

"The M8 is a vital link in the central belt and this newly completed section will help connect people to business, leisure and education opportunities and also creates a better environment for companies to do business.

"Businesses are already reporting a journey time saving of up to 20 minutes travel between Scotland's biggest cities and a similar saving for those using Raith junction. These improvements and additional road capacity will ensure our economy has room to grow.

"With the completion of this project, and three others others  - the Queensferry crossing, the first section of the A9 dualling and the Aberdeen bypass - by next spring, more than 250km of new roads will have been completed in the last 10 years – representing a total investment in construction of £2.81 billion."

Stuart Patrick, Chief Executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, said: "Connectivity between Scotland's two biggest cities is vitally important for trade so we warmly welcome the completion of this major infrastructure project.

"The M8 M73 M74 road network is also a key link for people commuting to Glasgow, with shorter journey times a real benefit to businesses and the economy.

"Congratulations to Transport Scotland and its partners for delivering such an extensive project which will have a huge, lasting impact for travel across the country and beyond."

(LM/MH)