r/Glasgow Tools

I don't think the majority view among advocates of that is full on and immediate "removal". More a regrading of the route step by step over the course of a number of years, eventually building towards it being turned into a standard urban boulevard, with the adjacent land (currently used for sliproads and supporting structures) used for development.

This process may begin with a downgrading of the route between Tradeston and Townhead to "expressway" status, with a slightly lower speed limit to match. This would likely coincide with signage and GPS / sat nav labelling being updated, so that drivers are encouraged to bypass the city via the M74 - M73 route, as appropriate.

At the same time, the Scottish Government has a target of reducing car miles by 20% by 2030. Glasgow City Council has a target of 30% reduction by 2030. Both are bringing forward policies in support of this: improvements to public transport and yes, deterrents to driving in some instances. Not enough perhaps, but there are changes coming. Whether it'll result in those 20% and 30% targets being met is an open question. But the next 10 years will see a concerted push to get people out of single occupancy vehicles and into more efficient, environmentally friendly modes of transport.

We may also see road pricing come into place in a national context, as the UK treasury attempts to claw back the budget hole which will be created once everyone abandons internal combustion engine vehicles and therefore don't pay fuel duty.

With the ability to price road use, the relevant authorities then have an incredibly powerful tool to move traffic where they want and directly affect road demand.

So, a lot still to be unlocked so to speak, but what seems fantasy could well be done in the course of 10-15 years.