An aerial video showing the progress of the £500m M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements Project has been released.

The Transport Scotland drone footage reveals for the first time the progress of a 5km section of the new M8 between Shawhead Junction and Baillieston Interchange in North Lanarkshire.

It follows a site visit this week by transport minister Humza Yousaf.

The newly constructed section of the M8 will have three lanes of traffic travelling in each direction, in addition to the two lanes in each direction available on the existing A8.

As a result, traffic travelling between Edinburgh and Glasgow on the new M8 will be separated from local traffic using the A8.

It is expected the separation of traffic will ease current traffic volumes by up to 25% on the new motorway and shave almost 20 minutes off the daily commute between the two cities at peak times.

Mr Yousaf said: "This drone footage provides the public with a unique perspective of these major construction works that are currently under way to improve the connection between Glasgow and Edinburgh but are largely out of sight to road users on the existing A8.

"The significant progress achieved is clear to see and, as we enter the final phase of works along the A8 corridor, I hope the public can be reassured that once complete the benefits will far outweigh the current disruption.

"I'd like to thank road users for their patience to date and would ask that they bear with us during this final push to complete the M8 missing link."

The footage also shows 5km of new pedestrian and cycle routes which run parallel to the new motorway.

It is part of 16km of new and improved routes which are being created to link with existing walking and cycling paths.

The work will improve the connections between many of the local communities, businesses and areas of employment in North and South Lanarkshire and Glasgow.