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Title: CONSTRUCTION OF M74 MOTORWAY

Reference number: 6039

Date: 1964 - 1966

Director: [filmed by Mrs J. Matthews]

Sound: sound

Original format: std. 8mm

Colour: col

Fiction: non-fiction

Running time: 10.54 mins

Description: Following in detail the construction of the M74 Hamilton by-pass from site clearance to opening ceremony.

Note audiocassette accompaniment with detailed commentary by film maker. This has been synced to run with picture at the National Library of Scotland Moving Image Archive.

Shotlist: [shotlisted from Beta SP, control track]

(0.00) title c/u sign reading 'Scottish Development Department M74 Hamilton By-Pass by Babtie Shaw and Morton Chartered Civil Engineers' (0.13) June 1964 exts offices and car park belonging to Christiani Shand, main contractors, near Hamilton (0.23) July 1964 gvs digger demolishing boundary wall of the policies of the Duke of Hamilton (1.10) gvs construction of temporary bridge used by contractors at the old entrance to Ross Lodge, gvs a drained Ross Pond where fishermen still hope for a catch whilst knee deep in mud (2.03) August 1964 gvs pile driver being used to drive metal casings into the ground - these casings are then filled with concrete to support fly over columns. A casing is hoisted into position (3.18) September 1964 construction of the first stages of the southbound motorway, making use of the newly constructed bridge, pipes are positioned (3.55) November 1964 shot of electricity transmission line pylons taking the power supply to Hamilton, panorama Hamilton. Shot of piles now encased in concrete (4.12) May 1965 gvs busy main road, c/u various road warning and construction traffic signs (5.08) gvs first flyover now well on the way to completion; gvs as workmen interweave bars of twisted high tensile steel - this is for reinforcement of the base of the columns for next flyover (5:54) August 1965 stability tests are carried out on piles by means of concrete blocks left on the top - these are tested for a 200 tonne load, pan across construction site, now beginning to take shape (7.09) January 1966 beginning of footbridge at Hamilton end (7.39) March 1966 gvs severe flooding on site, damaging equipment (8.01) October 1966 expanded polystyrene is put in between space between plinths and columns to allow movement of columns under load, c/u man breaking polystyrene in his hands. Shot of man putting final touches to the guide rails for the flyover using drill / welding equipment (?) (8.37) gvs opening ceremony in December 1966, includes shot of marquee, cameras, speeches. The Lord Lieutenant of the County, representatives of consultants and contractors. The Secretary of State for Scotland, Mr. William Ross performs opening ceremony and cuts tape (9.27) gvs as the first cars proceed along new M74 (9.35) gvs a walk from Hamilton to Motherwell, taking the footpath past slip-road and ascending first footbridge. Watching south-bound traffic on slip-road below. View of Motherwell and the old Clyde Bridge now scheduled for demolition. Leaving footbridge and c/u sign signalling 'End of Road Construction' (10.54)