1967 Construction of the M74 shared by A Hastings
Although none of these photos are in Blantyre Parish, they are all mostly taken immediately just over the Parish boundary in Uddingston or Maryville. They document in 1967 – 1969, the construction of the M74 Motorway, certainly a road that assisted everybody in the immediate vicinity.
Some of the photos are taken at Uddingston looking towards Blantyre, others looking towards Uddingston or Maryville. They show what a monumental undertaking the construction of this road was.
Alistair Hastings who shared them with Blantyre Project, told me, “These were taken by my Grandfather they show the construction of the M74 at Uddingston 1965- 1969. My Grandparents lived in No.7 Brookland Avenue, Uddingston ,third house from left in picture 01740. One of the houses in the street was subject to compulsory purchase and demolished to provide access to the site. I am the boy standing in picture 01720. I can remember riding a bicycle along the almost completed but not yet opened motorway.”
The full album is here for reference, with thanks to Alistair.
The motorway connected Glasgow to the main spinal motorway leading down to England. One of the most major interchanges construction was further South at Raith, the subject currently of a massive upgrade to ease congestion.