Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - M80 (Stepps to Haggs Project)
10. Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent the M80 Stepps to Haggs project will improve journey times, reliability and safety. (S3O-5698)
The Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change (Stewart Stevenson):
On current traffic predictions, the project will cut journey times as soon as it is opened by up to 15 minutes, which will increase to 20 minutes by 2025. Upgrading to motorway standard will improve safety through the provision of hard shoulders, which provide a refuge for vehicles in the event of incidents, and junctions with flyovers, which will replace those that are currently controlled by traffic signals.
Tom McCabe: The upgrade will undoubtedly be an important addition to the road network, but equally important is the upgrade to the Raith interchange in Lanarkshire, where fatalities have occurred and where business traffic is curtailed daily. Will the Scottish Government consider bringing forward that project to assist the road network in Scotland further?
Stewart Stevenson: I recognise the importance of the issue. We will certainly give consideration to it within the constraints that we have. I am happy to interact with the member further if he wants to talk to me in greater detail.
