M74 motorway: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

The M74 is a major road in Scotland. The motorway runs from Glasgow 53 km (33 miles) south east, where it is arbitrarily renamed the A74(M). Collectively, the M74, A74(M) and A74 form the main north-south route between Scotland and North West England.

At present the M74 begins in the Glasgow suburb of Tollcross, and then heads south towards the Clyde Valley towns of Hamilton, Motherwell and Lanark. At Abington in the heart of the Leadhills area, the road becomes the A74(M) then passes Moffat and Lockerbie, and then continues to Gretna, on the English border. The road then reverts to the A74 (non-motorway) for 10 km (6 miles) until Carlisle, where it becomes the M6.

Alongside the motorway are the B-graded roads, the B7076 and B7078. These are in fact stretches of the original A74 which were kept for non-motorway traffic and to serve local towns and villages.

As at 2003, there are two extension schemes planned for the M74. At its northern end, it will be extended for some 8 km (5 miles) so that it will join with the M8 south of the Kingston Bridge, therefore bypassing the notorious Central Glasgow section of the M8. This is expected to open in 2008.

At the southern end, the remaining section of the A74 betwen the English border and the beginning of the M6 at Carlisle will be upgraded to motorway standard. This has been a subject of much political wrangling, as the Scottish Executive feel that it is not their responsibility as the stretch of road is in England, while the Department of Transport argue that because most of the A74/M74 is in Scotland, it is therefore a Scottish problem. Despite all this - the new section of road is expected to be completed in 2007.

Although not confirmed by the Scottish Executive, the long standing plan has been to rename the motorway M6 once the various upgrades are completed. Many of the road signs in the southern stretches were designed with removeable "A74(M)" plates which have "M6" underneath.

See also: List of motorways in the United Kingdom