M8 MOTORWAY

On behalf of Transport Scotland, Amey undertook a comprehensive package of improvements on the M8 motorway between Junctions 15 and 22. The M8 is the busiest motorway in Scotland, connecting Glasgow and Edinburgh and serving other major communities such as Airdrie, Coatbridge, Greenock, Livingston, and Paisley. This 60-mile (97 km) stretch is crucial for both local and national transportation.

The project at J15 (Townhead) involved replacing ageing high masts and upgrading the LED lighting systems to enhance the condition of carriageway lighting and reduce the need for extensive future maintenance. The Townhead Interchange, a complex junction linking the M8 with the A803 and A804, was a focal point of this upgrade to ensure better traffic flow and safety.

Amey working collaboratively with CU Phosco's contracts team to deliver a state-of-the-art lighting solution that meets the highest performance and efficiency standards.

CU Phosco provided a full turnkey solution, including a high mast lighting design package tailored to the project's specific requirements. The project scope extended to lighting design, manufacturing, and installing high masts, feeder pillars, and access/path improvements around mast bases. The infrastructure itself had been installed by Amey.

The solution consisted of 30 new 30m high masts and 131 P855 high mast luminaires. These new high masts, designed and manufactured at CU Phosco's factory in Gloucestershire and Yorkshire, feature a simple and effective winching system that allows the lighting ring to be lowered to ground level for easy maintenance.

The P855 luminaires, with their highly innovative, 360° rotating STAR-optic®, replaced the existing LED luminaires. Its functional yet compact design delivers exceptional optical and thermal performance while maintaining a low weight and wind area.

Replacing the original LED lighting with the P855 high mast luminaires significantly improved lighting performance around the junction. Thanks to the P855's superior luminaire efficacy of up to 160 lm/W, the project reduced the required number of fittings and delivered energy savings of over 25%. This energy-efficient solution not only enhances road safety but also contributes to long-term sustainability goals by reducing the overall energy consumption of the motorway lighting system.

James Marshall, Lighting | Highways Business Unit, comments, "CU Phosco's innovative high mast lighting solutions have significantly improved the lighting performance at junction 15, enhancing road safety for users. The contracts team was easy to work with, and their expertise has delivered a robust, easy-to-maintain solution, reducing the need for extensive future works."