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| A737 road | |
|---|---|
| Country | Scotland |
| Route | 737 |
| Length mi | 21 |
| Direction a | South |
| Terminus a | Glasgow |
| Direction b | North |
| Terminus b | Irvine |
| Counties | North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire |
A737 road The A737 road is a trunk and primary route linking Glasgow and Irvine via Paisley, Johnstone, and Kilmacolm. It forms part of a regional corridor connecting the A78 road, M8 motorway, and A737-adjacent strategic routes used for freight to the Port of Glasgow, Greenock, and the Firth of Clyde. The route passes through suburban, industrial and rural landscapes, serving commuters, long-distance traffic and local communities.
The road begins near central Glasgow where it intersects the M8 motorway and the A8 road before running westward through Scotstoun, Yoker, and approaching Renfrew. It continues northwest through Paisley, skirting the vicinity of Paisley Gilmour Street railway station and the historic Paisley Abbey, then proceeds past the industrial estates of Hillington and the shopping areas of Johnstone High Street. Crossing the rural fringe between Johnstone and Kilmacolm, it serves villages such as Bridge of Weir and Houston before descending toward the Ayrshire coast, joining the A78 road near Irvine Harbour and providing links to Brodick-bound ferry services and the port at Hunterston Terminal.
The corridor traces older packhorse and turnpike paths dating to the 18th century when routes connected Glasgow to the ports on the Firth of Clyde and to market towns like Irvine parish. During the 19th century, the growth of textile works in Paisley and shipbuilding in Greenock intensified traffic, prompting formal road improvements under turnpike trusts similar to those that created links to Ayrshire towns. 20th-century developments including the rise of the M8 motorway and the decline of rail freight shifted freight and commuter flows onto the A737 corridor, leading to realignments and bypasses in places such as Johnstone to accommodate motor traffic and to integrate with the expanding motorway network.
Major junctions include the interface with the M8 motorway at the west end of Glasgow, the interchange with the A737-adjacent A8 road toward Glasgow Airport, and connections to the A778 road for access to Ferguslie Park and Kilbarchan. The route provides strategic links to the A737 corridor intersections that serve Paisley rail terminals and the Glasgow Prestwick Airport axis via feeder roads to Ayrshire routes. Key nodes facilitate access to the Port of Glasgow and freight yards at Hillington Industrial Estate, while link roads connect to the A78 road toward Largs and Arran ferry terminals.
Traffic levels vary from urban congestion in Glasgow and Paisley during peak commuting hours to lighter rural flows in Renfrewshire and North Ayrshire. Safety records have been influenced by heavy goods vehicle movements servicing the Hunterston Terminal and commuter traffic to employment hubs like Inchinnan Business Park and Hillington Industrial Estate. Accident reduction schemes at key junctions have mirrored initiatives seen on other Scottish arterial routes, and road surface resurfacing projects have addressed wear from winter conditions common to the Clyde estuary region.
Bus services operated by companies serving routes between Glasgow and Irvine employ much of the A737 corridor, linking to rail hubs such as Paisley Gilmour Street railway station and Johnstone railway station. Park-and-ride facilities and interchanges connect with regional rail services on the Argyll and Bute and central Scotland lines, while cycle routes and commuter cycleways intersect the road near urban centres like Paisley and suburban nodes such as Kilmacolm. Active travel schemes have sought to improve crossings, segregated cycle lanes and bus priority measures reflecting practices used elsewhere in Scotland.
Planned improvements have focused on junction upgrades, safety enhancements and selective widening to manage freight to ports including Hunterston Terminal and to improve commuter links to Glasgow Airport and Prestwick. Proposals have referenced regional transport strategies tied to investment priorities in Scotland and coordination with rail projects at hubs like Paisley Gilmour Street railway station to reduce congestion. Local authorities in Renfrewshire and North Ayrshire continue consultations on sustainable transport measures, traffic calming in villages such as Bridge of Weir, and potential smart corridor technologies implemented elsewhere across the United Kingdom.
Category:Roads in Scotland