Questions are once again being asked about safety at the Junction 27 interchange in Paisley after a car left the road on Thursday evening and ended up on the westbound carriageway of the M8.
The crash, which happened at around 8.40pm on Thursday, 16 July, saw the vehicle reportedly leave the slip road heading towards Paisley before crossing all four lanes of Renfrew Road, smashing through the safety barrier and coming to rest on the motorway below.
Two women were taken to hospital for treatment, while the M8 westbound was closed at the White Cart Viaduct and Renfrew Road was shut between the Abbotsinch Retail Park and Arkleston Road roundabouts due to extensive barrier damage.
The incident has prompted renewed concerns from local residents and motorists, as this is the second time a vehicle has left the road at this location and ended up on the motorway below.
While police enquiries into Thursday’s crash are ongoing, many will be asking whether enough is being done to prevent a similar incident from happening again.
The fact that a vehicle was able to cross multiple lanes of traffic before breaching the safety barrier has led to questions over whether additional protection, improved barrier systems or other engineering measures should now be considered.
Thankfully, no one on the motorway below appears to have been struck during this latest incident. However, many residents and drivers will feel that the outcome could easily have been far more serious.
With this now the second incident of its kind, should Transport Scotland review the safety of Junction 27 before a future crash results in the loss of life?
What are your thoughts? Do you think improvements are needed at this location?
Paisley Photographs 
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