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Routes

Motorways in Scotland


Opening Dates

Opening dates for Scotland's motorways are listed below in chronological order.​ Visit our route pages for details on specific schemes. 

Motorway
Section
Date
Location
M90
Forth Road Bridge - North Approach Roads
4th Sep 1964
J1C-2
A823 (M)
Pitreavie Spur
4th Sep 1964
Entire Route
M8
Harthill Bypass
20th Nov 1964
J4-5
M8
Harthill Bypass (Hirst Road to Shotts)
1st Dec 1965
J4-5
M74
Hamilton Bypass (Stage 1)
2nd Dec 1966
J6 -8
M8
West of Harthill to Newhouse
24th Aug 1967
J5-6
M8
Renfrew Bypass
18th Mar 1968
J26-29a
M8
Glasgow Inner Ring Road - Townhead & Woodside 1
7th Apr 1968
J15-16
M74
Hamilton Bypass (Stage 2) - Raith to Hamilton
14th May 1968
J5-6
M74
Hamilton Bypass (Stage 2) - Maryville to Raith
2nd Aug 1968
J4-5
M9
Polmont and Falkirk Bypass
29th Aug 1968
J4-7
M8
Dechmont to Whitburn
23rd Sep 1969
J3-4A
M90
Crossgates, Cowdenbeath and Kelty Bypass
1st Dec 1969
J2-4
M8
Glasgow Inner Ring Road - Kingston Bridge
26th Jun 1970
J19-20
M9
Newbridge to Kirkliston (Including M90 Spur)
25th Nov 1970
J1-1A
M8
Newbridge to Dechmont
30th Nov 1970
J2-3
M8
Bishopton Bypass (Stage 1)
27th Dec 1970
J29-30
M898
Erskine Bridge South Approach
27th Dec 1970
Entire Route
M9
Stirling Bypass (Stage 1)
6th Apr 1971
J10-11
M8
Glasgow Inner Ring Road - Woodside Section
7th May 1971
J16-17
M73
Maryville to Baillieston
19th May 1971
J1-2
M90
Kinross and Milnathort Bypass
13th Dec 1971
J5-8
M8
Glasgow Inner Ring Road - Charing Cross Section
4th Feb 1972
J18-19
M73
Baillieston to Mollinsburn (A80)
10th Apr 1972
J2-3
M9
Kirkliston to Lathallan
18th Dec 1972
J1A-4
M9
Stirling Bypass (Stage 2)
28th Dec 1973
J9-10
M876
Bankhead to North Broomage
22nd May 1974
J1-2
M80
Haggs to Ingleston
22nd May 1974
J7-9
M80
Ingleston to Pirnhall
22nd May 1974
J7-9
M8
Monkland Motorway (Stage 1)
30th May 1975
J12-15
M8
Bishopton Bypass (Stage 2)
18th Nov 1975
J30-31
M8
Renfrew Motorway (Stages 1 & 2)
15th Oct 1976
J20-26
M90
Friarton Bridge - North Approach Roads
Oct 1976
J11
M90
Arlary to Arngask
7th Mar 1977
J8-B966
M90
Muirmont to Moncrieffe Hill
27th Oct 1977
J9-10
M90
Craigend Interchange
27th Oct 1977
J10
M90
Craigend Interchange to Broxden Roundabout
24th May 1978
J10-12
M90
Friarton Bridge
28th Sep 1978
J10-11
M8
Monkland Motorway (Stage 2A)
29th Jun 1979
J11-12
M9
Longdyke to Pirnhall
15th Feb 1980
J7-9
M876
North Broomage to Bowtrees
15th Feb 1980
J2-3
M8
Monkland Motorway (Stage 2B)
25th Apr 1980
J9-11
M8
Glasgow City Boundary to Baillieston
25th Apr 1980
J8-9
M90
Arngask to Muirmont
2nd Oct 1980
B966-J9
M77
Dumbreck Road Connection
7th Aug 1981
M8-J1
M74
Draffan to Wellburn
27th Oct 1986
J8-10
M74
Wellburn to Poniel
27th Oct 1986
J10-11
M74
Poniel to Millbank
Nov 1987
J11-12
M8
Starlaw Junction
Early 1989
J3A
M74
Millbank to Nether Abington
29th Nov 1991
J12-13
M80
Stepps Bypass
8th Jun 1992
M80-J3
A74(M)
Elvanfoot to Paddy's Rickle
21st Aug 1992
J14-15
A74(M)
Kirkpatrick Fleming to Gretna
19th Dec 1992
J21-22
M8
St. James Interchange Improvement
17th Aug 1993
J28A
A74(M)
Nether Abington to Elvanfoot
3rd Dec 1993
J13-14
M74
Fullarton Road to Maryville
Apr 1994
J2A-4
A74(M)
Dinwoodie Green to Muirhouse
22nd Sep 1994
J16-17
A74(M)
Muirhouse to Water of Milk
22nd Sep 1994
J17-18
A74(M)
Water of Milk to Ecclefechan
22nd Sep 1994
J18-19
A74(M)
Ecclefechan
22nd Sep 1994
J19
A74(M)
Cleuchbrae to Dinwoodie Green
11th Dec 1994
J15-16
A74(M)
Ecclefechan to Keaglesfield
24th Nov 1995
J19-20
A74(M)
Eaglesfield to Kirkpatrick Fleming
24th Nov 1995
J20-21
M8
Claylands to Edinburgh City Bypass
11th Dec 1995
J1-2
M77
Ayr Road Route
6th Dec 1996
J1-5
M9
Newbridge Underpass
20th Oct 1997
J1
M90
Halbeath to A92 Link
27th Mar 1998
J2A
M8
Braehead Junction
Late 1998
J25A
A74(M)
Paddy's Rickle to Cleuchbrae
30th Apr 1999
J14-15
M73
Gartcosh Junction
Oct 1999
J2A
M77
Malletsheugh to Fenwick
27th Apr 2005
J5-8
M90
Kirkliston Spur to A90 Extension
Sep 2007
B800-J1
M876
Bowtrees Grade Separation
19th Nov 2008
J3
M74
Fullarton Road to Kingston
28th Jun 2011
J1-2A
M80
Stepps to Haggs
Sep 2011
J3-7
M73
Extension to M80
Sep 2011
J3-4
M876
J2 East Facing Sliproads
Aug 2012
J2
M9
Kirkliston North Facing Slip Roads
1st Feb 2013
J1A
M8
Heartlands Junction
Sep 2013
J4A
A8(M)
Baillieston Interchange to Swinton Roundabout
Sep 2016
Entire Route
M8
Baillieston to Newhouse
Apr 2017
J6-8
M90
Queensferry Crossing
30th Aug 2017
J1-1B
M8
Bishopton Junction
Dec 2019
J29A

This article was first published in December 2024.

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