Skip to main content

EIB agrees backing to upgrade Scotland’s core motorway network

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has agreed to provide a funding contribution of US$292 million towards the completion of the motorway link between Glasgow and Edinburgh. The project includes the completion of the M8 motorway between Scotland’s two largest cities and major improvements to the M73 and M74 to reduce congestion and safety and improve travel times on one of Scotland’s busiest road networks. “The European Investment Bank is committed to supporting crucial investment in essential infrast
February 25, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
The 4270 European Investment Bank (EIB) has agreed to provide a funding contribution of US$292 million towards the completion of the motorway link between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

The project includes the completion of the M8 motorway between Scotland’s two largest cities and major improvements to the M73 and M74 to reduce congestion and safety and improve travel times on one of Scotland’s busiest road networks.

“The European Investment Bank is committed to supporting crucial investment in essential infrastructure across Europe and we recognise the importance of the M8 scheme to upgrade Scotland’s core motorway links. This project will not only provide economic benefits during construction, but will also improve safety and reduce costs for business in the years ahead through improved travel times. We are committed to providing significant long-term financial support for the scheme.” said Jonathan Taylor, European Investment Bank vice-president responsible for the UK and Ireland.

Transport minister, Keith Brown, said: “This marks a significant milestone in the timeline of what is a major transport infrastructure project for Scotland. Not only will these works vastly improve connectivity across Scotland’s central belt, the project will deliver far reaching benefits to the wider Scottish economy.

“We’ll see the creation of hundreds of new jobs which will leave a lasting legacy of a highly-skilled workforce, bolstering Scotland’s construction industry. In addition, the project will act as a catalyst to attract significant inward investment and stimulate continued growth of our business communities.”

Debt financing for the project is equally split between a direct loan from the European Investment Bank and a bond placement with international investors. The new Scottish scheme represents the first UK road project involving bond finance since the global financial crisis in 2008, and is the largest project to be financed through the 2112 Scottish Government’s Non-Profit Distributing model.

Related Content

  • June 22, 2016
    EBRD supports extension of Romanian motorway network and trans-European links
    The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is supporting the construction of new sections of the D4 highway and the R7 expressway in the Slovak Republic with debt facilities of up to US$159 million (€150 million). The funds are part of a larger package totaling US$987 million (€875 million) provided to the concessionaire Zero Bypass under a public-private partnership (PPP) scheme. Other participants include the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Slovak Investment Holding, Instituto de
  • May 11, 2020
    European Bank backs Tblisi metro modernisation
    A loan of €75 million will improve commuters’ journeys in Georgia’s capital
  • May 5, 2021
    ‘Shining moment of opportunity for tolling’
    Climate change is already affecting tolling operations in many parts of the world. IBTTA’s Bill Cramer explains how the sector can be seen as a proven funding and financing mechanism for surface transportation
  • May 9, 2014
    Strabag investing in Irish motorway network
    Construction group Strabag, as part of the DirectRoute consortium, will finance, plan, build and operate the 57 kilometre long section of the Irish N17/N18 motorway between Gort and Tuam near Galwayon behalf of National Roads of Ireland. The public-private partnership (PPP) project has a total private sector investment value of about US$459 million.