By the 1980s, St. James Roundabout, one of the most important junctions on the M8 motorway, was suffering from disruptive traffic congestion. During peak periods it was not uncommon for traffic to back up onto the motorway creating serious safety hazards. The installation of traffic lights in the middle of the decade brought some relief, however the completion of the A737 Johnstone-Howwood Bypass, the expansion of Glasgow Airport and new developments in Paisley meant that a considerable amount of additional traffic would be using this key point on the strategic road network in the years ahead.

The Scottish Office, through Strathclyde Regional Council, commissioned a study to consider potential improvements to the interchange. It was recommended that direct links from the A737 to the M8 bypassing the existing roundabout be constructed. This was in line with recommendations made for the junction in the Greater Glasgow Transportation Study of 1968.

The Scottish Office approved the project in 1989, at which time it was decided to promote the scheme as a fixed price, design and build competition. Thirteen firms expressed interest, six of which were interviewed in December of that year. Three consortia were then invited to tender. Contract documents were issued in May 1990 with tenders to be returned by January 1991. A specimen design and specification prepared by Strathclyde Regional Council was used as the basis for pricing the project.

In April 1991 Balfour Beatty and their designer Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick were awarded the contract. Design work commenced immediately and was completed in the autumn.