_motorway_(Northern_Ireland)&sq=&lang=&file=File:UK-Motorway-A8_(M).svg) | |
|---|---|
| Route information | |
Part of  E01 and  E18 | |
| Length | 1 mi (1.6 km) |
| Existed | 1966–present |
| Major junctions | |
| North end | Newtownabbey |
| South end | Newtownabbey |
| Location | |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Constituent country | Northern Ireland |
| Road network | |
The A8(M) is a motorway in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is 1 mile (1.6 km) long and is a spur of the M2 motorway. It was opened on 24 October 1966[1] and built at the same time as the M2 section to which it connects. It is part of the unsigned European routes E01 and E18.
The A8(M) does not meet any other motorways directly, with one end connecting to the A8, and the other connecting to the A6. The roundabout junction which links the A8(M) to the M2[2] is the A6.
Although both sides of the road are the same width, the northbound direction has three lanes, one of which is only partly open to traffic, while southbound only has two.[2] Despite being one of the shortest motorways in Northern Ireland, it still includes matrix displays[citation needed] and is classified as a separate road, unlike other similar spurs, such as the Walton Summit motorway spur of the M65 motorway, which are classified as parts of other motorways.
- ^ The Motorway Archive – M2 Northern Ireland Dates page Archived 14 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b CBRD Motorway Database – A8(M) (NI) URL accessed 17 June 2006