 Construction of this 40 km stretch started in October 2006 and was opened to traffic on 8 December 2008, some seven months ahead of the target completion date.Like four of the other M8 schemes, the section was originally to open as HQDC with green signage and a 100 km/h limit.However, due to its redesignation as motorway in September 2008 it opened with full motorway restrictions, appropriate blue signage and other standard motorway features (emergency telephones, etc.