The M8

[Chief]

A lot of those buildings you've mentioned are residential, Boards - Lumiere, Beethams etc. I think they're much cheaper to build (lower floor-floor heights, and probably lower M&E and plant costs too). Can't really go in to any more detail as I don't have any!

[crusty_bint]

At 250,000 sq/ft its pretty substantial, and development of this corner can only be welcomed. Bit of an awkward site in terms of context though, lots to juggle there. Wonder if the land parcel includes the little outcroppings from the Abbey building (in orange)? Will look forward to some images - start date is pretty soon btw, how come this is the first we're hearing?



I hope it addresses the approach to the Hilton in some way, coz its a pure riddy. Pressure also need to be applied to BT Estates and BT Openreach to do something about Dial House too (its a horrible, horrible thing, inside and out), particularly now the Marriot and Holiday Inn are redeveloping.

[Boards]

Originally Posted by Chief

A lot of those buildings you've mentioned are residential, Boards - Lumiere, Beethams etc. I think they're much cheaper to build (lower floor-floor heights, and probably lower M&E and plant costs too). Can't really go in to any more detail as I don't have any!

Cheers, seems mad this office block is costlier to build though than the Elph opposite.

[Boards]

Anybody know whats going on under the motorway at Seaward Street? I dont suppose its anything to do with the M74 extension but I could be wrong? Simply landscaping?

[M_Riaz]

Originally Posted by Boards

Anybody know whats going on under the motorway at Seaward Street? I dont suppose its anything to do with the M74 extension but I could be wrong? Simply landscaping?

Transport Scotland

Road Project Details
Project Name: M8 Seaward Street
Type: Road
Location: South West
Status: Underway
Size: Minor
Detail: What is involved in the project?

A new link is to be constructed between the existing Seaward Street off ramp and the existing Scotland Street on ramp at Junction 21 of the M8 motorway at Seaward Street, Glasgow.

Why is it needed?

The link will allow drivers travelling east on the M8 at this location to pass beneath the motorway and return westbound on the M8 or to travel south on the M77. It will also allow drivers travelling northbound on the M77 to access the M8 westbound or to return southbound on the M77.


What will it cost?

£1.0 Million


Project start date?

26 March 2007

[Boards]

Ah I see, you are a font of knowledge M Riaz! Sweet, this is my turn, living at the end of the M77 I'm constantly using this reverse up and under ( for Braehead etc and the airport ). I assume this will rather than being a free-flowing turn for the people coming off the outer-carriageway of the M8 it will mean just one set of lights to wait at rather than two? The current lights at the bottom of the slip at Seaward Street will be by-passed but there will still be a set of lights before as you meet the slip back onto the Westbound outer-carriageway of the M8? ( You would still need a set of lights there as traffic is still flowing onto the slip from Scotland Street ). If so there should be a noticable improvement in waiting times at peaks hours. Shame they just didn't build a junction with proper access though allowing drivers on the M77 to freely flow onto the M8 westbound!

[da brain]

i'd have thought it could mean no lights at all, just a merge onto the existing on ramp? even quicker

[Boards]

But the existing on ramp is only one lane - that would mean the traffic from the new layout and traffic from Seaward Street and Scotland Street using the same one lane on ramp. I suppose yes though it could just be a turn with no traffic lights and youd just wait for a gap in the traffic to join. I hadn't thought about that option.

[da brain]

its a pretty wide ramp, with a wide hard shoulder, i often find myself thinking about overtaking slowcoaches on it; but then i feel bad and dont.

[Boards]

So youre thinking it would me made into a two lane ramp? I'd feel a bit unsafe joining the motorway at that point with a two lane slip and the fairly short merge with the outer-carriageway at that point.

[M_Riaz]

Bridge @ M8 HartHill is to be renewed, i often pass this bridge in my travels and always wonderd how long it would last.

Transport Scotland is replacing the existing footbridge with a combined pedestrian/cycle facility.

The bridge will meet all relevant guidelines so that it is accessible to all users and will be an impressive landmark structure, which will further enhance and encourage the use of the new development.

Construction of the new footbridge will start in October 2007 and it will open in Spring 2008. The estimated cost of construction is £4.1 million.

[Boards]

Will certainly look fresher. Harthill ( sorry Heart of Scotland services! ) was never great but its now utter shite, its just a petrol station on each side now, I couldn't believe it when I went in after the refurb, its a cheek to call it a motorway services, even the worst ones in England ( think Woolley Edge ) are better than it now. Its also quite a busy wee coach drop point, a little seating area of real cafe area would be preferable too sitting in the bloody petrol station. And I properly fancied one of the burds at the Costa Coffee - gone now!

[Boards]

I forgot the worst bit - why in gods name didnt they resurface the slip roads when they closed for the refurb, its an absolute bloody disgrace, you could lose a Ford Ka or Smart car down some of those potholes.

[M_Riaz]

Originally Posted by Boards

you could lose a Ford Ka or Smart car down some of those potholes.

I know what you mean boards those holes are masive on them sliproads, its a wonder no body has been sued.

[Boards]

Joking aside its a poor show though, it is bordering on dangerous in places. I wonder if anyone has actually sued?

[Boards]

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/d...han_the_m8.php

[Boards]

M8 branded UK’s worst route for traffic jams

by Iain Lundy

A SHOCK transport survey has branded the M8 in Glasgow as the worst commuter route in Britain.

Motorists who travel the road daily face greater levels of congestion than drivers in Britain's congested capital London - and worse than in Birmingham and Manchester as well, according to the new study.

At one stretch the snarl-ups are so frequent that motorists have an 85% chance of experiencing delays.

The survey results - announced by traffic information service Keepmoving - come a day after it was revealed that drivers are often quicker taking the "scenic route" between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

advertisementA separate study showed travelling Cumbernauld, Falkirk and Linlithgow could be faster than the direct route on the M8.

A Keepmoving spokesman said Glasgow motorists faced the "most severe commuter misery" in the UK.

He said the company had spent a year monitoring traffic speed between 5pm and 6pm and had drawn up a "hit-list" of the most congested stretches of road.

The M8 emerged with the title of the "worst commuter road in Britain" with the top five hotspots between eastbound from the city.

At junction 16 (Cowcaddens) delays were said to be "inevitable and most acute" with an 85% chance of being stuck in a queue.

At the Kingston Bridge (J20) the chance of delays were 81%, at St George's Cross (J17) it was 79%, and at Charing Cross (J18) and Anderston Cross (J19) the figure was 78%.

Alex Petrie, Product Director of Keepmoving, said: "Our research highlights the exasperation felt by the long-suffering British commuter.

"The debate over road pricing becomes even more pressing if you consider the amount of time and money drivers waste in traffic."

[mrmojo]

Yea, the A8/M8 between glasgow and edinburgh is such a horrible drive. It's a proper bumper to bumper push every time I've been on it.

It's not even consistent- one second you'll be edging along at 5mph, the next 70mph+. You can tell when there's a junction ahead as the flow just falls apart as people try and merge in, meaning all the traffic has to move into lane 2 to let the cars in.


The A8 section is an utter joke too. At least that's penciled in for an upgrade.

[Mr. B]

THE M8 being called Britain's worst commuter road has led to renewed calls for the M74 extension to be completed.

Motoring watchdogs claimed drivers were more likely to face delays on the M8 in Glasgow than on any other road in the UK.

As reported in yesterday's Evening Times, the worst "hotspot" was the Cowcaddens junction where delays were encountered 85% of the time during a year-long survey.

Earlier in the week a separate study proved that at some times of the day it was quicker to travel between Glasgow and Edinburgh using an alternative route rather than the M8.

advertisementNeil Greig, of the Institute of Advanced Motoring, said it was "no surprise" the M8 was the most congested route in the UK but the "obvious" solution was to complete the M74 as soon as possible.

Mr Greig said: "The basic problem is we have a dual carriageway of only two lanes carrying the entire West of Scotland motorway network through the centre of Glasgow.

"The road is being pounded every day and 85% of the time at least we can guarantee congestion.

"The problem is this situation has not changed for the last 10-15 years.

"The politicians and planners have known about this but things have got worse.

"The obvious answer is the completion of the M74 and it falls to the new Scottish Executive to get this implemented.

"We just need to get on and build it."

Glasgow Chamber of Commerce chief executive Dr Lesley Sawers said: "There has been an adverse effect on the city's business life, with journeys and delivery times becoming longer.

"It is absolutely vital we get traffic off the M8 if Glasgow is to continue its economic success.

"It is imperative nothing stands in the way of the vital M74 extension and key public transport developments like the Glasgow Airport Rail Link and Crossrail."

[Momus]

Everyone drives in the outside lane. If you pay attention, you can normally make good progress by nipping along the inside lane for a mile or two. Same thing happens on the three lane stretches, when most numpties only use the middle and outside lanes only, leaving the insde largely clear. Sheep!