A8(M) motorway (Northern Ireland)

The A8(M) is a motorway in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is 1 mile (1.6 km) long and is a spur of the M2 motorway. It was opened on 24 October 1966[1] and built at the same time as the M2 section to which it connects. It is part of the unsigned European routes E01 and E18.

A8(M) shield
A8(M)
Route information
Part of E01 and E18
Length1 mi (1.6 km)
Existed1966–present
Major junctions
North endNewtownabbey
South endNewtownabbey
Location
CountryUnited Kingdom
Constituent countryNorthern Ireland
Road network

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 one of the shortest motorways in Northern Ireland, it 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.

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 its 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]

Junctions
Corr's Corner near Glengormley
A8(M) motorway
Northbound exits Junction Southbound exits
Larne A8
Ballyclare B56 Glengormley		 J1
Terminus		 Start of motorway
Start of motorway M2 J4
Terminus		 Belfast, Londonderry, Antrim, Coleraine M2
Glengormley A6 Mallusk

See also

References
  1. The Motorway Archive – M2 Northern Ireland Dates page Archived 14 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  2. CBRD Motorway Database – A8(M) (NI) URL accessed 17 June 2006
  3. Pathetic motorways – A8(M) URL accessed 17 June 2006
  4. Northern Ireland Roads Site – History of Motorway Plans
  5. The Motorway Archive – M2 (Northern Ireland) Archived 25 October 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  6. Northern Ireland Roads Site – A8(M)
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