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 (Dumbreck), to the south-west of Glasgow City Centre.
To allow the bridge spans to be safely lifted back into place, two extended overnight closures are required across the M8, in both directions, between Junctions 19 (Anderston) and 24 (Helen Street) in November 2026. 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.
Signed diversion routes will be in place, and the programme of extended overnight closures is as follows:
· Weekend One (Kirkwood Street Span Reinstatement): 6pm on Saturday 7th November until 1pm on Sunday 8th November 2026
· Weekend Two (Cornwall Street Span Reinstatement): 6pm on Saturday 14th November until 1pm on Sunday 15th November 2026
Traffic management arrangements for Weekend One:
The M8 eastbound will be closed between Junctions 24 and 22, including the Helen Street eastbound on-slip road. Traffic will be diverted to turn right via Helen Street onto Paisley Road and will follow Mosspark Boulevard to join Dumbreck Road and will continue to the M77 northbound, where diversion will end. Traffic affected by an M8 Junction 23 eastbound on-slip road closure will join this diversion at Dumbreck Road and continue to the M77 northbound.
For the M8 westbound main and secondary carriageway closures between Junctions 22 and 24, traffic will follow the above diversion but in reverse from the M77 Junction 1 southbound off-slip road to rejoin the M8 at Junction 24.
A separate diversion for the Carnoustie Street on-slip road closure will operate via Scotland Street to the Seaward Street westbound on-slip road.
The M77 in both directions will remain unaffected by the weekend one closures.
Traffic management arrangements for Weekend Two:
All 16 lanes of the M8 will be closed during this weekend. The M8 eastbound will be closed between Junctions 24 and 22, including the Helen Street eastbound on-slip road. Traffic will be diverted via Helen Street, Edmiston Drive, Paisley Road West, Paisley Road, Kingston Street, Commerce Street, Broomielaw, and the A804, before joining the M8 eastbound at Junction 19. Traffic affected by an M8 Junction 23 eastbound on-slip road closure will join this diversion at Edmiston Drive and follow the same route to Junction 19.
For the M8 westbound closure between Junctions 20 and 24 will be diverted via West Street, Morrison Street, Paisley Road, and Paisley Road West. From here, traffic travelling towards the M77 southbound will continue via Dumbreck Road to join the M77 at Junction 1, while traffic travelling towards the M8 eastbound will continue via Helen Street to join the M8 at Junction 24.
Additional Slip Road Closures
The Seaward Street on-slip road will be closed with traffic diverted via Seaward Street and Paisley Road West. From here, M77 southbound traffic will travel via Dumbreck Road to join the M77 at Junction 1, while M8 eastbound traffic will travel via Helen Street to join the M8 at Junction 24.
The Waterloo Street on-slip road will be closed with traffic diverted via Pitt Street, St Vincent Street, and Newton Street to the M8 at Junction 19, before continuing via West Street, Morrison Street, Paisley Road, and Paisley Road West. M77 southbound traffic will then travel via Dumbreck Road to join the M77 at Junction 1, while M8 eastbound traffic will travel via Helen Street to join the M8 at Junction 24.
The Stobcross on-slip road will be closed with traffic diverted via Argyle Street, James Watt Street, Broomielaw, Bridge Street, Nelson Street, Morrison Street, Paisley Road, and Paisley Road West. M77 southbound traffic will then travel via Dumbreck Road to join the M77 at Junction 1, while M8 eastbound traffic will travel via Helen Street to join the M8 at Junction 24.
The M77 northbound carriageway will be closed at Junction 1, including the Junction 1 northbound on-slip road. Traffic will be diverted via Dumbreck Road and Edmiston Drive, before following Paisley Road West, Paisley Road, Kingston Street, Commerce Street, Broomielaw, and the A804 to join the M8 eastbound at Junction 19.
The M74 westbound carriageway will be closed at Junction 1 with traffic diverted via Scotland Street, Seaward Street, and Paisley Road West. The same diversion route will apply for the closure of the Carnoustie Street westbound on-slip road closure. From here, M77 southbound traffic will travel via Dumbreck Road to join the M77 at Junction 1, while M8 eastbound traffic will travel via Helen Street to join the M8 at Junction 24.
Road users are strongly advised to avoid the area during the closures, with significant delays anticipated across the surrounding road network and diversion routes. During similar closures in 2024, delays of up to one hour were experienced, and comparable delays are possible if traffic levels are not significantly reduced. Please consider alternative routes and modes of transport or avoid travelling through the area wherever possible.
This operation requires large cranes and specialist heavy lifting equipment and can only proceed in suitable weather conditions. Should high winds, heavy rainfall, or other forecast adverse weather make it unsafe to proceed, the works may be postponed or rescheduled at short notice.
To minimise the impact of any delay, a contingency weekend closure has been identified and may be used if the planned works cannot proceed as scheduled above. This contingency date is provided in advance for awareness only and will only be implemented if required:
Contingency Weekend: 6pm on Saturday 21st November until 1pm on Sunday 22nd November 2026
Weather conditions will be monitored closely in the lead-up to the works. Should it become necessary to postpone or reschedule the operation, updated information will be communicated as soon as a decision has been made.
Road users should also be aware of other planned roadworks across the Glasgow motorway network during these weekends.
Vehicles entering Glasgow’s Low Emission Zone (LEZ) as part of the signed diversion route will not be subject to enforcement. However, drivers who leave the signed diversion route may be liable for penalty charges issued by Glasgow City Council.
This scheme has been planned in consultation with Transport Scotland, Traffic Scotland, the emergency services, Glasgow City Council, and other key stakeholders.
Amey thanks residents, businesses, and road users for their continued patience and understanding while these essential improvements are carried out.
Re-Opening of Kirkwood Street and Cornwall Street Footbridges
Following the reinstatement of the bridge spans, a programme of works will be undertaken to prepare the footbridges for re-opening and enhance the route for active travel. From November 2026, the works will include waterproofing, resurfacing, improved drainage, and parapet upgrades. The footbridges are programmed to re-open by Sunday 28th February 2027.
Improvements to the refurbished footbridges will include higher parapets for cyclists, resurfacing, and improved drainage. These improvements will create a safer and more accessible route for people walking, wheeling and cycling, supporting active travel across the local community.
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