The UK’s Transport Scotland has announced that a first phase of a speed enforcement camera network has gone live, as part of a £500m M8-M73-M74 motorway improvement project.
The Scottish Roads Partnership (SRP) consortium is responsible for designing, building, financing and operating the project roads.
These cameras will see a safe and steady traffic flow by monitoring the average speed of vehicles through the works to ensure the safety of both road users and road workers.
“We are acutely aware of the challenges involved in keeping the traffic moving whilst delivering a project of this scale and complexity.”
The project aims to tackle congestion problems on the three motorways and at key junctions, including Raith (M74) and Shawhead (A725/A8).
The safety cameras will remain in place until the completion of the project in early 2017.
Following completion of the project, congestion across the central Scotland motorway network will be significantly reduced, with travel time reliability between the main route of Glasgow and Edinburgh improved.
According to Transport Scotland, the two lanes will remain operational in each direction across all project roads during peak times, although traffic management and speed restrictions will be in place and enforced by the cameras.
Transport Scotland project sponsor Graeme Reid said: “We know from our experience of major road infrastructure projects that safety cameras are a tried and tested approach that improves safety for both road users, and the adjacent construction workforce during what will be an extremely busy period in terms of construction.
“Not only do the cameras create a safer environment for all concerned, they can also help improve the flow of traffic through the works.
“With more than 100,000 vehicles using these key routes each day, we are acutely aware of the challenges involved in keeping the traffic moving whilst delivering a project of this scale and complexity.
“Once complete, congestion across the central Scotland motorway network will be significantly reduced, with travel time reliability between the main route of Glasgow and Edinburgh improved.”
SRP is currently installing safety cameras in phases across the project to reflect the significant increase in construction works scheduled in the months ahead.
The installation has been started on the M74 and will later be rolled out at the following locations over the coming months.
Transport Scotland and its partners is currently delivering more than £1.5bn worth of investments in projects to improve the country’s road and rail network infrastructures.
