The new section of the M8 motorway has been officially opened by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
The so-called missing link of Scotland's busiest motorway, between Newhouse and Baillieston, opened to traffic in April.
It was the latest stage in the £500 million M8, M73 and M74 Motorway Improvements Project.
Transport Scotland said the project, which was designed to tackle traffic congestion problems in central Scotland, is already cutting journey times for motorists by up to 20 minutes.
The body said vehicles are now travelling along the M8 at an average speed of almost 70mph, even during busy periods, and it expects to see a reduction in road accidents as a result of the work.
Speaking at the Maxim Business Park at Eurocentral on Monday, Ms Sturgeon said: "The M8 is a vital link in the central belt and this newly completed section will help connect people to business, leisure and education opportunities and also creates a better environment for companies to do business.
"Businesses are already reporting a journey time saving of up to 20 minutes between Scotland's biggest cities and a similar saving for those using Raith junction. These improvements and additional road capacity will ensure our economy has room to grow.
"With the completion of this project and three others - the Queensferry Crossing, the first section of the A9 dualling and the Aberdeen bypass - by next spring, more than 250km of new roads will have been completed in the last 10 years - representing a total investment in construction of £2.81 billion."
Craig Ritchie, director at Maxim, said: "Now it is open, the upgraded M8 is having a major positive impact on the businesses along the motorway corridor and beyond.
"The motorway network connects all of central Scotland and is already helping our occupiers operate more efficiently."
Andy Baird, operations manager for the Co-op Group's distribution centre at Newhouse, said: "The new roads are definitely helping in terms of speeding up our deliveries and getting our vehicles to these stores on time.
"One of the improvements I've noticed is between Baillieston and Newhouse where you used to sit in a queue near the Showcase Leisure Park for up to 20 minutes early in the morning, but now there's no traffic and that part of the journey is completed in three or four minutes."
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