A8(M) motorway (Northern Ireland)

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A8(M) motorway
Length 1 miles
1.6 km
Direction North - South
Start Newtownabbey
Primary destinations None
End Newtownabbey
Construction dates 1966 - entire motorway
Motorways joined None
Euroroute(s)
E 01

The A8(M) is a motorway in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is 1 miles (1.6 km) long and is a spur of the M2 motorway. It was opened on 24 October 1966[1] built at the same time as the M2 section it connects to. It is part of the unsigned European Route E01.

The A8(M) does not meet any other motorways directly, with one end connecting to the A8, and the other connecting to the A6. The roundabout junction which links the A8(M) to the M2 [2] is the A6.

Although both sides of the road are the same width, the northbound direction has three lanes, one of which is only partly open to traffic, while southbound only has two[2]. Despite being the shortest motorway in Northern Ireland, the motorway still includes matrix displays [3] and is classified as a separate road, unlike other similar spurs, such as the Walton Summit motorway spur of the M65 motorway, which are classified as parts of other motorways.

Contents

[edit] History

In 1956 proposals for several motorways, including the M2, were announced with the M2 running directly to Ballymena[4]. Part of this alignment became the A8(M) when in 1964 further plans changed the route of the M2 via Antrim to Coleraine[4], away from it's original direct alignment over difficult terrain[5], which is how the plans for construction were then progressed. This road was already under construction at Newtownabbey, so it was left as a spur. This section was renamed the A8(M) as it links to the A8 continuing as an A-road all the way to Larne[6].

[edit] Junctions

A8(M) Motorway
Northbound exits Junction Southbound exits
Larne A8
Ballyclare, Newtownabbey B56		 J1
Terminus		 Start of Motorway
Start of Motorway M2 J4
Terminus		 Belfast, Antrim M2
Glengormley, Mallusk A6
Newtonabbey B90

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Motorway Archive - M2 Northern Ireland Dates page
  2. ^ a b CBRD Motorway Database - A8(M) (NI) URL accessed 17 June 2006
  3. ^ Pathetic motorways - A8(M) URL accessed 17 June 2006
  4. ^ a b Northern Ireland Roads Site - History of Motorway Plans
  5. ^ The Motorway Archive - M2 (Northern Ireland)
  6. ^ Northern Ireland Roads Site - A8(M)

[edit] External links


Roads and Motorways in Northern Ireland
Motorways: M1 | M2 | M3 | M5 | M12 | M22 | A8(M)
Main 'A' Roads: A1 | A2 | A4 | A5 | A7 | A24 | A36
Belfast: Donegall Square | Falls Road | Malone Road | Shankill Road | Westlink


Motorway symbol Motorways in the United Kingdom Motorway symbol
Great Britain: M1 • M2 • M3 • M4 • M5 • M6 • M6 Toll • M8 • M9 • M10 • M11 • M18 • M20 • M23 • M25 • M26 • M27 • M32 • M40 • M42 • M45 • M48 • M49 • M50 • M53 • M54 • M55 • M56 • M57 • M58 • M60 • M61 • M62 • M65 • M66 • M67 • M69 • M73 • M74 • M77 • M80 • M90 • M180 • M181 • M271 • M275 • M602 • M606 • M621 • M876 • M898
A1(M) • A3(M) • A38(M) • A48(M) • A57(M) • A58(M) A64(M) • A66(M) • A74(M) • A167(M) • A194(M) • A308(M) • A329(M) • A404(M) • A601(M) • A627(M) • A823(M)
Northern Ireland: M1 • M2 • M3 • M5 • M12 • M22 • A8(M) edit
Past: M41 • M63 • A18(M) • A40(M) • A41(M) • A102(M) • A6144(M)    Unbuilt: M12 • M15 • M64    Future: M4 Toll
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