Secrets of The Motorway - M80

#scotland #infrastructure #motorway

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This week, we'll be heading away from Glasgow (The preferred direction) along the M80 motorway. After 25 miles or so, we'll arrive to the South of Stirling but of course, we've a lot of stops to make along the way.

Abandoned roads... yes. Abandoned but also old bridges... yes. Railway stuff... yes. Stupid art installations...yes. Junction re-designs...yes... but wait... there's more...I can't recall what, but it's all there in the video.

In this series we aim to explore what our motorway network is hiding. As we drive along at 70mph..ish...we simply just wouldn't be aware of what we're missing. This series aims to uncover some of the hidden secrets our motorways have to offer.

[AndreiTupolev]

Interesting fact about Provan Gas Works: it used to have its own narrow gauge rail system which, due to restricted clearances, had to use the tiniest steam locomotives you've ever seen. They made a 7" gauge garden railway look big. One of the locomotives, Dougal, is preserved at the Welshpool & Llanfair Railway

[BonBonB]

I specifically click the like button before even watching the video. Not many channels I do that for, this is one.

[mikusguitarius]

Sunday lunchtime only happens once the new Secrets of the Motorway upload drops….

[willtricks]

A Quarry, a Dam, a Viaduct, a Bridge, a Stream, a Gas Works, a Steel Works, a Railroad, a Road No longer in use, a Goblin cave, a Statue and a Sword in a Stone. The M80 was over shadowed by the areas treasures. I'm surprised you could fit it all into 10 minutes. Cheers PH, you are doing well

[stuartjohnston]

My 1st experience of motorway driving was during the construction of the M80. I was learning to drive and starting university in Dundee. From Glasgow I drove with my mum supervising along the A80, all good and legal. We got to a roundabout and the road immediately became the M80 afterwards. There was either no warning signs, or we missed them. Learner drivers weren't allowed on the the motorway then and you are also not allowed to stop unless it's an emergency. ( Learners are allowed now but only with a DVSA approved instructor. ) After a moment of panic from my mum, all we could do was continue driving. No dramas really but amusing to look back on. After a few miles the road became the A80 again and we drove on to Dundee.

[keef]

Great stuff again and credit to you for closing with the theme tune to 'Scotch & Wry' - for a certain generation of Scots, it was the highlight TV viewing on Hogmanay (New Year's Eve). Made by BBC Scotland and shown right before 'The Bells', featured many Scots comedians who would go on to bigger things - Gregor Fisher, Elaine C. Smith etc.

[danellis-jones]

This is becoming a regular Sunday night treat, before I get annoyed at another work week

[JayYoung-rovu]

It's remarkable how UK and American systems look similarly but different. We both have routes/interchanges that look like "spaghetti thrown against the wall designs." The roundabouts are interesting. I have to remind myself that we drive on opposite sides of roads. 😆

[mightymartinpetrov]

Excellent one, this one, even taking into account I've never been near this motorway in my life....

[bertoltb]

As always, a strangely compelling video, never before has one man made motorways so interesting. Keep up the good work Jon.

[the_dungeoneer]

Thanks for using the Scotch and Wry theme tune! Brought a surprise cheer(s) to my morning! And yes, Aria is looked after and lit up a night.

[leonkernan]

Part of my Sunday night routine has become watching videos about motorways in a country half way around the world.
No, I don't know why either.

[dough]

A surprisingly busy motorway - the Auchenkilns roundabout was a constant nightmare until it was replaced by J4a. Any time the road has to be closed between junctions 4 and 8, central Scotland gridlocks. I speak from

[tomwinch]

Wicked, sweet and awesome Jon ... but please find a way home! We miss you in Inger Land!

[southcalder]

Looks like you finished at Carron Valley Reservoir which has a unique feature. It spans a watershed, and drains in two different directions. The main route is down the River Carron towards the Forth, but it also has a smaller dam on its western edge that drains a small burn towards Loch Lomond and the Clyde.

Also, towering above the reservoir is Meikle Bin (which can be seen from the M74 in South Lanarkshire as the pointy peak in the middle of the Campsie Fells. It’s about a 90 minute walk from the road to the summit and the views to the south are fantastic. It’s also under the final approach path for Glasgow Airport, so has some low flying aircraft and even has wreckage of a crashed military aircraft near the summit.

[professormcgorgeous]

Junction 5 Auchenkilns was upgraded in 2005 to replace the roundabout which caused so many problems and was actually built wide enough for dual three lane running for when the upgrade of the old A80 happened but they chose to use dual two lane as it is today and one unique feature is the expansion joints on the north side of the bridge on the main carraigeways the road crosses a peat bog on a concrete raft they had issues during the upgrade due to the bog.

[ADJLfanatic]

The way Junction 3 is laid out before upgrades reminds me of how a lot of unbuilt highways are here in the U.S. The government would plan an interstate/motorway, build part of it, and then they can't finish it - leaving it like that.

[anperson]

@7:40 - "Some guy called Wallace"
Wallace Campbell is actually the full name of Wally from Where's Wally? It's a very fitting tribute, because you can't see Wally from there.

[AlanBilsborough]

I used to live close to and travel the A80 before the upgrade, and then onto the M80 in Glasgow before the M74 was completed. Absolute nightmare journey. Kids nowadays, don't know the hardships we used to endure! 😂

[Colin_Pole]

Arria's lights do work and is quite a nice sight when driving past