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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
National
Jennifer Russell

Watch incredible footage of Glasgow's M8 motorway in the 1970s

Footage unearthed by Glasgow Motorway Archive shows the M8 motorway network during the 1970s.

The clip, which was locked away in a box for decades before it was digitised in 2017, captured the construction of parts of the motorway network through the city.

The footage illustrates how the motorway changed the face of the city and increased traffic.

Most of the M8 was constructed during 1965 to 1972, but other parts of the network were still being built into the 1980s.

East along M8 at Port Dundas, mid 1970s (Glasgow Motorway Archive)

Once known as the Glasgow Inner Ring Road, the M8 provided an important link between Edinburgh in the east and Glasgow in the west. The first section opened in Glasgow city centre in 1968, and the footage shows how the Inner Ring Road looks in 1974.

The non-profit organisation shared the 10 minute video to celebrate the 'stunning feat of engineering' associated with the project.

Stuart Baird told Glasgow Live: “The construction of the motorway through Glasgow dramatically changed the fabric of the city and improved connections with the rest of Scotland.

M8 Woodside to Townhead east, early 1970s (Glasgow Motorway Archive)

"From 1965 to 1972 there was an intense period of construction in the city centre, possibly the largest civil engineering project of the 20th century. The motorway has many unique features that sets the M8 apart from others in the UK.

"This stunning piece of footage illustrates the huge increases of traffic since it was built.

"The Glasgow Motorway Archive seeks to preserve records associated with this stunning feat of engineering.

M8 Kingston Bridge construction Feb 1970 (Glasgow Motorway Archive)

"The film was originally shot by John Cullen (a key part of the Glasgow Highway Plan), who sadly passed away earlier this year. Without John and his encouragement there would be no Archive.”

Watch the footage above to see the transformation for yourself.

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