The M8 motorway through Glasgow has been branded a "danger to public health" by a city MSP after the extent of noise pollution caused by traffic was revealed.
A "noise map" produced by the Scottish Government found that on average the M8 generates noise levels in excess of 80 decibels - similar to the runway at Glasgow airport.
The section of the motorway that runs through Charing Cross, Anderston and Cowcaddens has proved controversial since its opening in 1970 due to the destruction it caused at the time and the pollution it has generated since.
City council bosses have drawn up plans to cap the M8 where it runs below the iconic Mitchell Library but one MSP said they don't go far enough.
Labour's Paul Sweeney told the Record: "It's frightening to discover that noise pollution from the motorway through central Glasgow is equivalent to that standing on Glasgow Airport's runway.
"Add to that its air pollution and urban blight. It is clearly a serious danger to public health for Glaswegians, both physically and psychologically."
The MSP added: "Glasgow City Council has proposed a partial cap over the M8 canyon between Charing Cross and Bath Street since 2015, but it's now obvious that does not go far enough to address the sheer scale of this problem.
"This should be enhanced so the motorway canyon is completely covered over from Charing Cross south to St Vincent Street, as well as north of Charing Cross to Great Western Road.
"This would massively reduce the severe noise and air pollution it emits across central Glasgow each day, while unlocking millions of square feet of publicly owned prime real estate for development, helping the city's struggling public finances while knitting the severed urban fabric of the city's historic street grid back together."
A public petition calling for the Scottish Government to "investigate options for removing and reducing the impact of the central Glasgow section of the M8" attracted more than 1,500 signatures when it was shared last year.
It is due to be considered by Holyrood's citizen participation committee later this year.
A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: "We recognise that noise and air pollution from major roads can impact quality of life, as well as our natural environment, and are working to tackle both issues.
"The Scottish Government is implementing a range of actions to reduce transport noise as outlined in our transportation noise action plan - including the consideration of specific noise management measures at problem areas on the trunk road network.
"Our approach to managing and improving air quality is also set out in the Cleaner Air for Scotland 2 strategy and is backed up by our commitments to phase out new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2032 and reducing car kilometres by 20% by 2030."
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