The A8(M) is a short stretch of road connecting the Bailieston and Swinton Roundabouts in Central Scotland. Only 250ish metres long, the road was originally signed A8(M) but is now signed A8 from one direction and M8 (M73) from the other leaving its appropriate ref value unclear. On OSM the ref value has oscillated back and forth between A8, A8(M), M8 and no ref at all. I’m raising it here to reach an agreement on the appropriate ref value for this short stretch of motorway.
Since it continues to be referred to as A8(M) in legal documents and in the absence of any other sensible number, I would be happy with the ref either as A8(M) or with no ref. Under the latest changeset from Patrick Harper[1] the ref has been changed again from A8(M) to M8 in both directions which I do not support as it is only signed in one direction as M8 and there was no source included to support the change.
Let’s decide once and for all how we are going to represent this troublesome 250m of road!
I don’t know the road, but presumably it has a central divider, so one direction could be tagged as trunk A8 and the other as motorway M8 to reflect what the signs say, with suitable note tags to inform anyone tempted to change it in future?
No, this wouldn’t be acceptable since the spur is subject to motorway regulations. I believe the best solution would be to either tag the spur as the M8 per signage on the ground or remove the ref=* tag and use destination:ref=* tags instead. I agree that note tags would be necessary to stop further disruption in the future.
If I were to provide a source it would be this, on the basis that A8(M) was never mentioned. I think A8(M) signs were present on opening, presumably by mistake.
Looks like it’s been changed back to A8(M). Not worth my time fighting it tbh, but I still believe M8 is correct; OS maps have it down as that number as well.
This is interesting because at first glance it seems like “oh this clearly says A8(M) is correct”. But in context, it says that actually that section of road is part of the M8 and the A8(M) is just a term to clarify which part we’re referring to.
This is much clearer in saying this is a separate road with its own designation.
Now, I’m not sure if the 2022 change was intentional or not but it does supersede the 2017 legislation (which is clearly revoked at the end of the 2022 legislation).
Now that’s just wrong. A road with a number can’t be a part of a road with a different number. They also say this for the A8, stating:
“the A8” means that part of the M8 between Newhouse and Baillieston Traffic Lights
The A8 can’t be part of the M8, it runs alongside it!
In any case, there are still references to the A8(M) in these regulations despite signage being changed for the ease of navigating by drivers. So the A8(M) ref remains unless there is a clear source stating otherwise, such as an FOI request.
Another useful data source is the Official list of trunk roads (2021) (kept in accordance with the requirements of section 2(2) of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984), which states: