MAJOR FOOTBRIDGE REPAIRS ON M8
J21 (SEAWARD STREET) TO J23 (IBROX)
  - WEEKENDS OF 27TH JULY & 3RD AUGUST 2024 - 

Amey, on behalf of Transport Scotland, is undertaking essential refurbishments of the Cornwall Street and Kirkwood Street footbridges that span the M8 between Junction 21 (Seaward Street) and Junction 23 (Ibrox), to the south-west of Glasgow City Centre from Monday 1st July until Friday 20th December 2024. A programme of maintenance is required to ensure these 50-year-old structures continue to operate safely and efficiently with full details of the project are available here. 

To allow the removal of the spans from the site, the M8 motorway will be closed overnight in both directions on two consecutive weekends from Saturday at 6pm. The two extended overnight closures are required across the M8, in both directions, between Junctions 19 (Anderston) and 24 (Helen Street). During these extended closures, road users are advised to avoid travel through this location and should plan ahead, consider alternative routes and modes of transport, and allow additional time to complete any journeys. Emergency vehicle access will not be maintained. 

To mitigate disruption to road users, the suspended spans of the footbridges will be removed for refurbishment off-site, which will allow the remaining works to in-situ spans and supports to be undertaken using nightshift lane closures of the M8. This will avoid the need for continuous traffic management to be in operation on the M8 during peak travel periods. 

Signed diversion routes will be in place and the programme of extended overnight closures is as follows: 

• Weekend 1: 18:00 on Saturday 27th July until 13:00 on Sunday 28th July 2024 
• Weekend 2: 18:00 on Saturday 3rd August until 13:00 on Sunday 4th August 2024 

Traffic intending to travel on the M8 Eastbound will be diverted onto Helen Street, Paisley Road West, Paisley Road, Kingston Street, Commerce Street, King George V Bridge, Broomielaw, and North Street. From here, traffic will be able to rejoin the M8 via the Junction 19 Eastbound On-Slip and diversion will end. Those intending to travel on the M8 Westbound will follow the same diversion route in the opposite direction. 

The M77 Northbound carriageway at Junction 1 (Dumbreck) including the on-slip road will be closed, with traffic diverted onto Dumbreck Road, Mosspark Boulevard, Corkerhill Road, Paisley Road West, Paisley Road, Kingston Street, Commerce Street, King George V Bridge, Broomielaw, and North Street. From here, traffic will be able to rejoin the M8 via the Junction 19 Eastbound On-slip road and diversion will end. 

The M74 Northbound carriageway at Junction 1 (Kingston) through to the M8 Junction 23 (Ibrox) will also be closed with traffic diverted onto Scotland Street, Seaward Street, Paisley Road, Paisley Road West, and Helen Street where diversion will end. 

Preparatory works for the weekend span removals will be required overnight from Monday 1st July 2024 and following the span removals, in-situ repairs will commence. Full traffic management plans for this project, including diversion routes will be provided, with information being updated prior to, and during the works, via the website:  www.swtrunkroads.scot. 

Please be conscious of other roadworks across the M8 corridor through Glasgow, any vehicles entering the LEZ as part of the diversion route must always follow the diversion signage. Any vehicles that deviate from the published diversion route may be issued with penalty charge notice(s) from Glasgow City Council should they be captured out with the agreed diversion route. 

The reinstatement of the footbridge spans will be undertaken using the same closures in Autumn/Winter 2024. Exact dates for this work will be communicated in due course. 

This scheme has been planned in consultation with Transport Scotland, Traffic Scotland, the emergency services, Glasgow City Council, and other key stakeholders 

Please note, all schemes are weather dependent and may be cancelled or rescheduled if weather conditions are not favourable. 

• A free Road Work Alerts service is available from our website: https://swtrunkroads.scot/roadwork-alerts/ An email address is all that is required to sign up for the service.
• To report a problem on the network please visit: https://swtrunkroads.scot/report-a-problem/
• Real-time journey information can be obtained by visiting https://www.traffic.gov.scot/ or via Twitter: @TrafficScotland

Traffic Management Programme (1 July - 10 August 2024) ⤵️

DIVERSION ROUTES (27th/28th July : 3rd/4th August)

M8 Footbridges (EB) J24-J19

 
M8 Footbridges (WB) J19-J24

 
M74 (NB) Jct 1 - Helen St

M77 Dumbreck Rd - M8 Jct 19 on slip

M8 JUNCTIONS 21-23 FOOTBRIDGES  |  FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1st July - 20th December 2024

This maintenance project will refurbish all four footbridges over the M8 through this location, and will be undertaken in two phases:

Phase 1 takes place from Monday 1st July 2024 for approximately 25 weeks and encompasses the refurbishment of the Cornwall Street and Kirkwood Street footbridges.

Phase 2 is being considered to take place in Spring / Summer 2025 and will encompass the refurbishment of the Percy Street and Beech Avenue footbridges. Further details will be issued following the completion of Phase 1.

1. Why is this work being undertaken now?
   
   The footbridges are 50 years old and during this time have operated well, but they are now reaching the end of their operational life and need extensive refurbishment.
   
   
2. Why were the issues with these footbridges not identified earlier?
   
   All structures across the South-West Trunk Road Network are regularly inspected and, as in this case, a programme of maintenance work is prepared when the need for repair is judged as necessary.
   
   Tthese footbridges span a busy road network, which will always make maintenance and inspections challenging.
   
   
3. Why are these works on the M8 footbridges now considered necessary?
   
   Following results of inspections and structural assessments, extensive maintenance is required to ensure these 50-year-old structures continue to operate safely and efficiently.
   
   
4. Why can't this work be undertaken, with the footbridges remaining open?
   
   The work requires the complete removal and reinstatement of the bridge spans, which could not be completed safely and efficiently if the footbridges continued to be in operation.
   
   
5. How long will Phase 1 of this programme of works take to complete?
   
   During Phase 1, to ensure the safety of the public, roadworkers and the site, a complete closure of Cornwall Street and Kirkwood Street footbridges will be implemented from Monday 1st July 2024, with no pedestrian or cycle access.
   
   Those intending to use either footbridge during the closure period will be diverted to nearby Percy Street and Beech Avenue footbridges, approximately 200m away. During the footbridge closures, 24-hour security will be in place on either side of the structures to ensure the safety of pedestrians and road users.
   
   To minimise disruption to road users, the suspended spans of the footbridges will be removed for refurbishment off-site, which will allow the remaining works to the in-situ spans and supports to be undertaken using overnight lane closures of the M8. This will avoid the need for continuous traffic management to be in place on the M8 during peak travel periods.
   
   Preparatory works for the weekend span removals will be required overnight from Monday 1st July 2024, and following the span removal, the in-situ repairs will commence.
   
   
6. Is this work likely to have any impact on the trunk road routes operating in this area - the M8, M77 and M74?
   
   To complete this work it will be necessary to undertake a series of full and partial road closures on lanes of the eastbound and westbound M8, on the approaches, and directly below, these footbridges. At times this will include the connecting roads, the M77 and M74.
   
   To allow the removal of the spans from the site, two extended closures are required across the M8, in both directions, between Junction 21 and Junction 23. The programme of extended closures will be completed predominately overnight on the following dates.
   
   Weekend 1: 18:00 on Saturday 27^th July until 13:00 on Sunday 28^th July 2024
   Weekend 2: 18:00 on Saturday 3^rd August until 13:00 on Sunday 4^th August 2024
   
   The reinstatement of the spans will be undertaken using the same closures in Autumn / Winter 2024. Exact dates for this work will be communicated in due course.
   
   
7. Will any traffic be able to travel through this section of the M8 motorway while these extended closures are in place?
   
   During the extended M8 closures, road users are advised to avoid travel through this location and should plan ahead, consider alternative routes, or modes of transport and allow additional time to complete any journeys.
   
   
8. What traffic management arrangements will be in place during these works?
   
   Full traffic management plans, including diversion routes will be provided, with information being updated prior to, and during the works, via the website: www.swtrunkroads.scot
   
   
9. What are the diversion routes for the weekend closures, and how will they be managed to ensure traffic is following them correctly?
   
   We would advise that travel be avoided during both major weekend closures. However, if travel is necessary, vehicles will be directed as follows:
   
   Traffic intending to travel on the eastbound M8 will be diverted via Helen Street, Paisley Road West, Kingston Street, Commerce Street, King George V Bridge, Broomielaw and North Street. From here, vehicles can re-join the M8 via the M8 Junction 19 eastbound on-slip road.
   
   Those intending to travel westbound on the M8 will follow this same diversion in the opposite direction.
   
   The northbound M77 carriageway at Junction 1 (Dumbreck) - including the on-slip road - will be closed.
   
   Traffic will be diverted onto Dumbreck Road, Mosspark Boulevard, Corkerhill Road, Paisley Road West, Paisley Road, Kingston Street, Commerce Street, King George V Bridge, Broomielaw and North Street. From here, traffic will be able to re-join the M8 via the eastbound M8 Junction 19 on-slip road.
   
   Diversion routes will be clearly signposted, and maintenance teams will check these routes every two hours.
   
   
10. How will the Glasgow Low Emissions Zone (LEZ) operate if it is part of the diversion route? If I follow the diversion route will I be fined?
    
    Please be conscious of other roadworks along the M8 corridor through Glasgow; any vehicles entering the LEZ as part of the diversion route must always follow the diversion signage. Any vehicles that deviate from the published diversion route may be issued with penalty charge notice(s) from Glasgow City Council should they be captured outwith the agreed diversion route.
    
    
11. Why can't this work be undertaken from the M8 carriageway with the bridges in situ, and with the use of limited lane closures?
    
    Attempting to complete these works, using lane closures and restrictions on the M8 to access these footbridges, would result in greater disruption for users of the M8 and also non-motorway users, for an extended period.
    
    The large cranes required to lift these structures off and back onto the carriageway would extend over a large area of the M8, effectively bringing the whole road to a close. Shorter, focused, closures to refurbish the bridges offsite are a more effective method and ensure the safety of road users and road operatives undertaking the work.
    
    
12. Will emergency service vehicles be allowed through these works?
    
    The emergency services have been consulted throughout the planning stages of this scheme, and whenever possible, they will be granted access through the works. During the two weekend closures, there will be no emergency vehicle access available.
    
    
13. Exactly what work is being carried out on the footbridges at M8 Junctions 21 to 23?
    
    The programme of works will include:
    
    

    ·        Waterproofing and resurfacing of each bridge deck;

    ·        Replacement of all expansion joints;

    ·        Pedestrian parapet replacement;

    ·        Concrete repairs including installation of cathodic corrosion protection; 

    ·        Strengthening at half joint locations;

    ·        Bearing replacements;

    ·        Vehicle restraint system upgrades to provide column protection;

    ·        Drainage upgrades.
    
    

14. Do these works form part of any other road maintenance schemes taking place on the M8?
    
    These are self-contained works that will focus purely on maintaining the safety and efficiency of the pedestrian footbridges at this location.

We thank road users and residents for their patience and understanding while this essential maintenance is taking place.